The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has continued to strengthen surveillance and fever screening of travelers arriving from China. Officials from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) confirmed human infections with the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have occurred in Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. None of the seven suspected cases reported between noon of April 7 and noon of April 8, 2013, were tested positive for the H7N9 virus. Of the three cases reported by the airport quarantine office, two were tested positive for the H1N1 virus and one was tested positive for the H3N2 virus. Of the four cases reported by the healthcare provider, one was tested positive for the H1N1 virus while testing for the other three cases is still underway.

CECC once again reminds people and tour guides visiting china to avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, consume only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs, and wash hands frequently in order to prevent infection of the H7N9 virus. In addition, tour guides are urged to pay attention to the health of their tour group members, assist a tour group member in seeking medical attention when the member falls sick or develops influenza-like illness, and report a sick member to the airport quarantine personnel upon arriving in Taiwan in order to effectively prevent the importation of infectious diseases.

CECC points out that, according to the Communicable Disease Control Act and the Regulations Governing Quarantine at Ports, tour guides are required to report any tour member experiencing suspected symptoms while traveling or upon arriving in Taiwan to the health authority and simultaneously provide the list of the tour group members, their contact information and the tour itinerary to facilitate subsequent follow-up activities. According to Article 69 of the Communicable Disease Control Act, failure to comply with the above-mentioned regulation will be fined NT$ 10,000 up to NT$ 150,000.

For any questions or further information, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.