In response to the current confirmed human outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) in the United States of America and Mexico, the Department of Health (DOH) has proceeded with multiple activities outlined in the “Strategic Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan”.Since the novel strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus could cause the next pandemic, DOH indicated at the conference on April 26, 2009 that all employees at the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) would not be allowed to take leaves in order to closely monitor the epidemic situation 24/7. On April 27, 2009, Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Chiu convened a cross-sectoral conference to coordinate efforts to tackle swine influenza and requested for Premier’s approval for the establishment of the Central Epidemic Command Center.

After increasing the level of warning against travel to areas affected by the outbreak, Taiwan CDC proceeded with reinforcing the practices of border monitoring for disease, promoting public health education among arriving and departing passengers, enhancing hospital-based surveillance in accordance with the case definitions for infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus announced by the World Health Organization (WHO),and requesting hospitals of different levels under the Infectious Disease Prevention Network to be prepared for a possible outbreak.On April 26, 2009, Minister of Health Yeh visited Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to survey the implementation of border quarantine measures.

In view of the recent outbreaks overseas, the primary focus in current disease prevention efforts is border monitoring for disease. As of now, Taiwan CDC has designated hospitals to be in charge of treating arriving passengers from Mexico with Influenza-Like Illness and requested airline companies to help identify passengers with Influenza-Like Illness, especially those arriving from the United States and Mexico.

Director Kuo of Taiwan CDC pointed out that whether WHO decided to raise the worldwide pandemic alert level from phase 3 to phase 4 was a major international concern and the deciding factors included if the strain causing the outbreaks is a novel strain, if human-to-human transmission has occurred, and if major casualties have resulted.Taiwan CDC will maintain close contact with WHO through the IHR Focal Point.

"Strategic Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan" was approved by the Executive Yuan on February, 2008. The main framework for the plan includes 4 major strategies and 5 lines of defense.The 5 lines of defense are: Containment abroad, Border quarantine, Community epidemic control, Maintaining normal medical system function, and Individual and family protection