In response to the current confirmed human outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada, the World Health Organization published case definitions for infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus on April 26, 2009.Immediately afterwards, Taiwan Centers of Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) held an expert meeting to adopt the WHO’s case definition and announced the inclusion of human infections with influenza A (H1N1) virus in the list of Category I Notifiable Infectious Disease in order to require medical institutes and personnel to report such cases and provide a basis for implementing control measures for public health emergency.

Taiwan CDC indicated that listing infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus as one of the Category I Notifiable Infectious Diseases requires all medical institutes to report cases with Influenza-Like Illness and a travel history to areas affected by the outbreak or a contact history with symptomatic persons.Further, clinicians are required to collect respiratory swabs from and prescribe antivirals to such patients, as well as to report such cases to local health authorities or to Taiwan CDC using online case reporting system within 24 hours. Patients with mild Influenza-Like Illness should be advised to remain under home quarantine till the laboratory result is available, practice good personal habits and wear face masks to prevent passing the infection to other members in the household.On the other hand, patients with severe symptoms that require hospitalization or are laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) should be arranged to receive quarantine treatment by either the hospital or the local health unit.Moreover, medical personnel should reinforce the implementation of nosocomial infection control measures when administering medical care to prevent nosocomial outbreaks.

Taiwan CDC would like to remind travelers who develop symptoms such as fever or Influenza-Like Illness upon returning form areas affected by the outbreak to wear a face mask immediately, seek medical attention as soon as possible, and inform the doctor of the recent travel history.When necessary, health personnel will advise patients to conduct health self-management or to receive quarantine treatment.

For more information about influenza A (H1N1), pleas dial the toll-free hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC.