The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) indicated that after all the 27 contacts of the influenza A (H1N1) case on flight MU 505 had been reached, specimens were collected from those contact cases and submitted to the laboratory at the National Influenza Center for influenza A (H1N1) testing.On May 2, 2009, 7 cases were found to be negative.Those 7 cases were still given antiviral prophylaxis and had movement and air travel restrictions removed.

The commanding officer of CECC, Minister of Health Yeh, applauded the local governments’ active efforts in contacting and securing specimens from all the 27 contact cases within 24 hours.Moreover, the assistance provided by the Mainland Affairs Council, the National Immigration Agency, the police agencies, and the Bureau of National Health Insurance has also helped contribute tremendously to the quickness in locating all the case contacts.On the other hand, Miss Ho had returned to Taiwan from Mexico.With the company of her mother and assistance of the health authority, she was sent to the hospital for further examination, and her specimen was submitted to the laboratory for testing onMay 3, 2009.

Currently, the method used for testing influenza A (H1N1) in Taiwan is real-time RT-PCR.The laboratory at the National Influenza Center worked overtime to complete testing all the specimens by afternoon on May 3, 2009.The method of real-time RT-PCR for detecting influenza A (H1N1) was developed domestically by a local biotechnology company using the full genome sequence of the virus Taiwan CDC obtained from the GISAID sequence database.

The third meeting held by CECC was convened by Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Chiu and Minister of Health Yeh at 2pm on May 3, 2009 to discuss the preparation for a possible pandemic by all government agencies.The conclusion of the meeting was publicly announced afterwards.