On August 6, 2013, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for rabies tested a total of 72 specimens for rabies virus, including 4 specimens collected from ferret-badgers in Taitung County and Taichung City, which were tested positive for the virus, another 21 specimens collected from ferret-badgers in New Taipei City (13), Hulaien County (3), Keelung City (2), Taichung City (1), Nantou City (1), and Taitung County (1), 7 specimens collected from masked palm civets in New Taipei City (2), Miaoli County (1), Taichung City (1), Changhua County (1), Tainan City (1), and Hualien County (1), as well as 12 specimens collected from house shrews, 10 specimens collected from house rats, 8 specimens collected from squirrels, 4 specimens collected from cats, 2 specimens collected from brown rats, 1 specimen collected from a groundhog, 1 specimen collected from a white-faced flying squirrel, 1 specimen collected from a bat and 1 specimen collected from a dog in Taoyuan County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Taitung County, and Hualien County. Besides the 4 specimens collected from ferret-badgers that were tested positive for rabies virus, none of the other 68 specimens were tested positive for the virus. As of August 6, a total of 159 specimens collected from carnivorous wild animals, excluding 48 specimens collected from ferret-badgers that were tested positive for rabies virus, all tested negative for the virus. Thus far, the incidence of rabies in wild animals has been detected in 8 cities and counties in the nation. Ferret-badgers remain the primary animal infected. In response to the identification of new rabies cases in animals. CECC continued to distribute animal rabies vaccines to the counties affected by rabies, including 300 doses to Hsinchu County and 500 doses to Taitung County to reinforce the vaccination of cats and dogs in the mountainous areas and the hunting hounds the aboriginal people keep. In addition, vaccine suppliers have imported 403,000 doses of rabies vaccine, which arrived in two separate batches on August 5 and 6, 2013 and have obtained customs clearance. Relevant authorities have sped up related formalities to ensure successful distribution of the vaccine beginning August 9.

According to CECC, as of August 7, the “Ferret-Badger Bite Safety Program” to vaccinate unvaccinated people who have been bitten or scratched by a ferret-badger in the past year against rabies has received a total of 11 applications for rabies vaccination. Of the applications, 9 are ferret-badger bite cases that involved category III contact, which includes single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, licks on broken skin; contamination of mucous membrane with saliva from licks, with the suspected rabid animal, while the risk of developing rabies is eliminated in the other 2 cases. The dates of exposure for the 9 ferret-badger bite cases respectively are November 2012 (1), December 2012 (1), January 2013 (3), April 2013 (2), May 2013 (1), and June 2013 (1). 6 cases have received the vaccine. CECC once again stresses that sufficient human rabies vaccines have been distributed to 54 hospitals with a stockpile of the vaccine. Front-line animal health personnel, including animal control workers, animal shelter workers, and veterinarians, are once again urged to receive the pre-exposure rabies vaccine at the designated hospital when notified by the competent health authority as soon as possible. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination consists of three doses of the vaccine given on days 0, 7 and 21 or 28. The general public is advised not to panic and as rabies is transmitted through animal bites and scratches, take the following precautions to ward off the disease: avoid touching, capturing, feeding and picking up wild animals and ensure pets receive vaccination against rabies in a timely manner.

According to statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC, between 4pm on August 5 and 4pm on August 6, 2013, a total of 156 new animal bite cases applying for rabies vaccine were received. Of the applications, 122 have been approved, including 26 applications from Taipei, 19 applications from northern Taiwan, 28 applications from central Taiwan, 20 applications from southern Taiwan, 24 applications from Kaohsiung and Pingtung, 4 applications from eastern Taiwan, and 1 application from out of the country. At the time of writing, an accumulative total of 1,410 animal bite cases applying for rabies vaccine have been received. Of the applications, 937 have been approved, including 154 applications from Taipei, 137 applications from northern Taiwan, 237 applications from central Taiwan, 165 applications from southern Taiwan, 169 applications from Kaohsiung and Pingtung, 64 applications from eastern Taiwan, and 11 applications from out of the country. 19 applications were approved for the use of HRIG and 17 of them have received the prophylaxis.

CECC once again reminds the public to not touch, hunt, capture, feed and keep wild animals as well as not abandon their pets and ensure their pets are properly vaccinated in a timely manner. If unusual behaviors, including difficulty in swallowing (not eating and drinking), fearfulness, increased urination, increased sensitivity to light or aggressiveness, are observed in animals, please report the sightings of animals with such behaviors to the local animal epidemic prevention agencies (Reporting hotline: 0800-761-590). When bitten or scratched by animals, please remember to take the following 4 steps: 1.Remember: Try to remain calm and remember the characteristics of the biting animal; 2. Wash: Immediately wash the wound with soap and an ample amount of clean water for 15 minutes and then disinfect the wound with iodine or 70% alcohol; 3. Seek: Seek prompt medical attention for proper evaluation and treatment to reduce the risk of infection; and 4. Observe: Try to detain the biting animal for a 10-day observation if possible. However, do not risk capturing the animal if it gets violent. For more information on rabies prevention, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone. For more information on outbreaks of animal diseases, please visit the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ)’s website at http://www.baphiq.gov.tw or call the Council of Agriculture’s hotline, 0800-761-590.