In response to the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea, on May 28, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) sent a medical officer, Chen Meng-yu, to visit South Korean health authorities and officials as well as teach Taiwanese residing there the correct prevention measures to ward off infection. After she returned to Taiwan, she held a press conference on June 3.

During May 28 and June 2, Chen visited South Korea to assist Taipei Mission in Korea in MERS-CoV prevention efforts and learn first-hand about the existing MERS-CoV preparedness and response strategies implemented by the Korean health authorities. With the help of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taipei Mission in Korea, Chen was able to meet with Korean CDC officials in Cheongju to learn about the latest development of the outbreak. In addition, Chen also visited hospitals in Seoul to learn about their protocols for receiving potential MERS-CoV cases and the infection prevention and control measures implemented in the hospital. On top of that, Chen also visited the Overseas Chinese Association and schools in South Korea to provide the Taiwanese communities there with relevant health education, including the proper way to wash hands and putting on a facemask.

During this trip, Chen noticed that the South Korean news media did not cover a lot about the outbreak untill June 1. Moreover, the Koreans were less concerned about the outbreak than Taiwanese people. The habit of wearing a face mask is not as common in Korea as well. Nevertheless, fear and rumors have begun to spread in Korea. Taiwan CDC will continue to strengthen communication with the news media and the general public and promote the importance of self-health management and monitoring. Further, Taiwan CDC will continue to collect and obtain information concerning the latest situation of the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea through various channels in order to adjust our own preparedness and response strategies timely and accordingly.

On June 3, South Korean officials announced five new MERS-CoV cases, including four men and one woman, aged between 43 and 77. Among them, four were patients and family members linked to the index case, while the other one was a patient who shared the same room with a secondary patient linked to the index case, who is considered as a tertiary patient. 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).