To prevent the transmission of Ebola virus, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has requested relevant organizations and airline companies to distribute the “Ebola Declaration Form”, which is a travel history declaration form for Ebola screening, on board all flights arriving in Taiwan from Europe and Dubai. Passengers are required to fill out the form truthfully.

In response to the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, Taiwan CDC has continued to enhance the implementation of quarantine measures at international airports. Additionally, Taiwan CDC has also sought cooperation from the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and airline companies in broadcasting in-flight announcements to urge passengers on all arriving international flights to voluntarily contact the Taiwan CDC’s quarantine officer at the airport upon arrival if they have traveled to areas affected by Ebola in West Africa, including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, within the past 21 days. In addition, beginning October 21, 2014, all passengers arriving by flights from Europe and Dubai are required to complete the blue “Ebola Declaration Form”, which is a travel history declaration form for Ebola screening. Passengers indicating a travel history to an area with an Ebola outbreak will be evaluated for any risk exposures for Ebola by a Taiwan CDC’s quarantine officer who will offer them relevant health educational materials and refer them to the appropriate public health authority when necessary. Moreover, immigration officers are required to request the immediate presence of a Taiwan CDC’s quarantine officer when nationals from countries affected by an Ebola outbreak are passing through immigration and customs to implement the relevant quarantine measures.

On October 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Nigeria Ebola-free after a 42-day period with no new cases. As a result, Taiwan CDC lowers the travel notice level for Nigeria to Level 1: Watch for Ebola virus disease. Nevertheless, as exchanges between Nigeria and Taiwan remain frequent, the public is urged to stay vigilant. The first case in Nigeria was imported from Liberia in Lagos on July 20, which led to consequent outbreaks in Lagos and Port Harcourt. A cumulative total of 20 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 8 deaths, were reported in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. On August 29, one Ebola case was confirmed in an imported case from Guinea in Senegal. The case has recovered after receiving treatment. A cumulative total of 1 case of EVD, including no deaths, was reported in Senegal. Senegal was also declared Ebola-free after 42 days with no new cases. As outbreaks remain rampant in countries neighboring Nigeria and Senegal, including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal are still urged to remain vigilant for the virus.

Taiwan CDC recommends the public to avoid all nonessential travel to Ebola-affected areas in West Africa. If you must travel to an area with an Ebola outbreak, protect yourself by taking the following measures. Avoid visiting hospitals and direct contact with patients. Travelers are urged to monitor their own health for 21 days after their return to Taiwan. If symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or rash develop, please call the toll-free hotline 1922(or 0800-001922) for assistance in seeking medical attention and voluntarily inform the doctor of any recent travel and exposure history to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, physicians are advised to stay vigilant for suspected cases, inquire about such patients’ travel history, and notify the health authority immediately of any suspected cases to facilitate implementation of subsequent measures such as following relevant infection control and prevention guidelines closely, case reporting, specimen collection, isolation of patients, and placing contacts in quarantine in order to prevent further transmission of the disease. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at: www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).