In the morning of June 2, 2015, the Minister of Health and Welfare Chiang Been-huang visited the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) to inspect the current MERS-CoV preparedness and response efforts implemented in light of the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea. Health and Welfare Minister Chiang stated that Taiwan established a response team that has been convening a meeting daily since its establishment on May 22 to closely monitor the development of the outbreak. When necessary, the Central Epidemic Command Center for MERS-CoV will be activated to ensure effective risk communication and respond to the situation appropriately and timely. He further instructed the response team to not only reinforce the implementation of various preparedness and response efforts, including border quarantine, infection prevention and control in hospital settings, international collaboration and risk communication, but also continue to closely monitor the development of the outbreak in order to promptly adjust the existing preparedness and response measures accordingly and ensure the health and welfare of all in Taiwan.

Specifically, Minister Chiang instructed the response team to reinforce the implementation of the following efforts:

2. Besides reinforcing the implementation of hospital infection control practices, make sure all the designated hospitals are ready to receive MERS-CoV patients. Put up obvious signs and notices in healthcare facilities to increase clinician and patient awareness of the need to consider MERS-CoV infection when discussing travel and contact history in order to prevent the spread of the disease in Taiwan. .

3. Obtain first-hand information on the MERS-CoV outbreak from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries through the IHR Contact Point in order to stay in line with the international community

4. Reinforce risk communication and the promotion of awareness messages. Through multiple channels, actively educate the general public the importance of calling the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922), to seek help in getting medical attention when symptoms develop after returning to Taiwan from affected areas in order minimize the possibility of exposing MERS-CoV to the others.

Although most of the MERS-CoV cases reported to date were confirmed in the Middle East, the importation of the disease remains possible through frequent international trade and travel. Airports, airline companies and travel agencies are urged to pay additional attention to the health of travelers. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are urged to pay attention to personal hygiene, respiratory protection and hand cleanliness and avoid visiting any farms and all direct contact with camels, including drinking un-pasteurized camel milk, to reduce the risk of infection. If you have experienced symptoms such as fever, cough or influenza-like illness, and diarrhea after returning to Taiwan from affected area, please notify the quarantine officer at the quarantine station at airports/harbors immediately and put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention and inform your physician of any recent travel and exposure history. Taiwan CDC urges physicians to be sure to inquire suspected patients their travel, occupation, contact and cluster (TOCC) history and reinforce the reporting of suspected cases to ensure prompt treatment and subsequent implementation of the relevant prevention and control measures. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).