The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently raised the level of influenza pandemic alert to phase 5, which means there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus in at least two non-neighboring countries.The Central Epidemic Command Center announced that the Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System and the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance System have been set up to timely monitor domestic cases and epidemic situation.In addition, the laboratory testing system has also been set up to conduct specimen testing rapidly and accurately.

As of noon on April 30, 2009, a total of 12 suspected cases of swine influenza has been reported in Taiwan.Novel influenza A (H1N1) has been eliminated in 8 of the cases, and the remaining 4 cases are awaiting test results.Moreover, all suspected cases have visited areas affected by the outbreak, including the United States and Mexico.

On the other hand, a total of 1071 calls was received by the Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, operated by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) on April 29, 2009.Callers include both the general public and medical personnel.The general public was mostly concerned with issues such as the epidemic situation, ways to seek medical help, and environmental disinfection.While medical personnel were mostly concerned with issues such as protocol for laboratory testing, patient care and management, and self-paid drugs.

To prevent influenza A (H1N1) from entering Taiwan, Taiwan CDC has begun implementing onboard quarantine inspection of certain flights arriving from the United States and Canada.As of noon on April 30, 2009, 2064 passengers on ten different flights have been inspected, and none of them was found to display fever-like symptoms.7 passengers have consulted quarantine officer at the quarantine station concerning their flu-like symptoms, but quarantine officials have eliminated infection with influenza A (H1N1) in those 7 cases after further evaluation.