In the evening of May 21, 2009, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed the third imported case of influenza A (H1N1) in a Taiwan-born 23-year-old female who visited the United States for a short-term language study program.The case took flight BR17 from San Francisco, the United States at 01:40 on May 20, 2009 and arrived at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 05:50 on May 21, 2009.Upon arrival, she was detected with a body temperature of 38℃ by the fever screening station in the airport.After being examined by the quarantine physician and given the proper protection, the case was sent to the Tao Yuan General Hospital for specimen collection and isolation treatment.Currently, the case is in fair health condition (muscle pain and cough with phlegm) and staying at the negative pressure isolation room.

The case indicated that she experienced symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, cough and running nose after boarding the plane and had come into contact with a patient with influenza-like illness.In addition, the case returned to Taiwan with her elder sister who went to the same school and stayed at the same place with her while in the United States.Furthermore, her sister experienced cough, running nose and sneezing a week before they returned to Taiwan.Upon returning to Taiwan, most of her sister’s symptoms had subsided except the cough.Besides her sister, the case stayed with a cousin in the United States who has not experienced any symptoms and is still in the United States.Since the case experienced influenza-like symptoms after boarding the plane, she did not wear a mask throughout the flight.Her close contacts, including her sister and mother, had been arranged to seek medical assistance at a hospital by CECC.

The passengers sitting in the same row and in the 3 rows in front and behind the case and the crew members on flight BR17 (departed from San Francisco at 01:40 on May 20, 2009 and arrived at Taoyuan at 05:50 on May 21, 2009; the case’s plane seat: 66E) will be followed up.At the time of writing, CECC has obtained the list of close contacts and crew members on the flight for epidemiological investigation and follow-up.

CECC urged passengers on board the aforementioned flight, especially those sitting in the same row and in the three rows in front and behind the case to voluntarily report themselves to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) through the Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, observe their own health, conduct home quarantine, and measure their body temperature twice a day for a period of seven days.After contacting Taiwan CDC, public health personnel will visit them to conduct preliminary investigation, collect specimen and administer antiviral prophylaxis.In addition, CECC stated that people in Taiwan should not panic because the case and all the close contacts have been traced.On the other hand, the passengers on board the same flights with the case should not be overly panicked and are urged to conduct self-health management for seven days or call 1922 for consultation.If any of the close contacts develop influenza-like symptoms such as fever and cough during the next 2-7 days, please be sure to contact the local health unit first and refrain from seeking medical attention on his/her own.

The public should not panic because all current cases of influenza A (H1N1) in Taiwan are imported and no community spread of the virus has occurred.CECC once again urges travelers to observe their own health before returning to Taiwan in order to lower the risk of community transmission of the virus in Taiwan.For relevant information concerning students who study abroad, please refer to the “Guidelines for prevention and control of influenza A (H1N1) among students who study abroad and return to Taiwan during the summer vacation” published recently by the Ministry of Education.