To provide accurate and up-to-date information concerning the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) epidemic development and actions being undertaken by the government Commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Yeh, Minister of Health, called a press conference on July 18, 2009 to discuss the current epidemic situation and unveil steps to be taken to prepare the health care system as an attempt to minimize the occurrence of severe cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1).

CECC indicated that the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus has resulted in a global pandemic because community outbreaks have been reported in almost all countries around the world. Further, the number of confirmed cases will no longer reflect the severity of the pandemic.Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stopped updating the number of confirmed cases.According to the four major influenza surveillance systems in Taiwan, it was estimated that a total of 36000 people experienced influenza-like symptoms during the last week. Additionally, it was estimated that 1500 of which were patients with influenza and 1280 of which were patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection. After the occurrence of severe cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Europe, the United States, and Hong Kong, it is not surprising that the first severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) has recently been confirmed in Taiwan.In light of the event, Commander Yeh stressed that improving the national health care system’s response to severe cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) is essentially critical.

To prepare for the second wave of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in this fall and winter, Taiwan and other developed countries have all adjusted the disease control and prevention measures and focused on vaccination and treating patients.On July 8, 2009, CECC established a “clinical care team”, which consisted of members from the Bureau of Medical Affairs, the Bureau of National Health Insurance, and Taiwan CDC. The “clinical care team” focuses on discussing issues such as treatment of severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1), ward management and antiviral utilization with relevant medical associations in Taiwan.In principle, the hospitals under the Communicable Disease Control Medical Network, the Emergency Medical Care Network and the Bureau of National Health Insurance branches in the six regions in Taiwan will provide instantaneous medical care to patients. Pursuant to Commander Yeh’s instructions, the clinical care team will visit the command centers in the six regions beginning next week.

As for the timing to use antivirals, CECC indicated that antivirals should not be abused and should be covered by the National Health Insurance in order to popularize the use of antivirals and minimize the occurrence of severe cases.The Bureau of National Health Insurance is now working on a policy to include antivirals in the National Health Insurance coverage. Commander Yeh has instructed the Bureau of National Health Insurance to proceed with promulgating and implementing the policy as soon as possible.

As for the preparation of vaccines, the government has planned to purchase 10 million doses of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine and 5 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine.As of now, 5 million doses of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine and 2.99 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine have been secured. Other procurements are being processed. The priority for vaccination target group will be determined with reference to the WHO recommendations and finalized by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

On the other hand, Commander Yeh also stated that the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is currently an issue of great concern among all countries around the world.Hence, the government will continue to promote international collaboration and exchange, including bilateral collaboration between Taiwan and Hong Kong and that between Taiwan and Japan, and the government plans to send a group of experts to attend an international conference to be held in Beijing, China in August, 2009 in order to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic.