The toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, operated by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) received a voluntary report of a suspected MERS-CoV case on May 30, 2015. The case visited Dubai during May 23 and 25 and then traveled to Vietnam during May 26 and 29. When he returned to Taiwan in the afternoon of May 29, he was not feeling unwell. However, later that night, he developed symptoms such as fever and sore throat. On May 30, he sought medical attention at a hospital. Although no radiographic evidence of pneumonia has been identified in the patient, the patient was immediately hospitalized in negative pressure isolation ward due to his travel history to the Middle East and was promptly reported to the health authority as a suspected case. Samples were immediately collected from the patient for overnight laboratory testing. The test results came back negative in the morning of May 31, eliminating MERS-CoV infection in the case. Instead, the case was found to be infected with influenza B virus.

Since the occurrence of the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreaks, this is the 17^th suspected case reported in Taiwan. MERS-CoV infection has been eliminated in all 17 suspected cases. In preparation for the potential importation of MERS-CoV cases from South Korea, Taiwan CDC has planned 3 scenarios and 3 scripts as the preparedness and response measure. All healthcare facilities have been required to reinforce the implementation of infection control and prevention measures and patient classification. Further, besides offering the 24/7 toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922), Taiwan CDC has also been working on improving the existing laboratory diagnostic capacity and the implementation of border quarantine. Taiwan CDC appreciates continuous vigilance from and cooperation by the public and healthcare facilities. Effective control and prevention of infectious diseases require the whole-hearted involvement of the public, healthcare facilities and government agencies. The public is once again urged to continue supporting and cooperating with all prevention measures implemented the government. Since China confirmed its first imported MERS-CoV case from South Korea, Chinese health officials have identified and placed 38 contacts on quarantine. Currently, no other infections have been identified. In light of the imported case in China, Taiwan CDC is working with the National Immigration Agency to closely monitor if any of the 166 passengers who were on the same flight with the case visits Taiwan. Once any of the passengers enters Taiwan,

On May 31, South Korean health officials announced two more MERS-CoV cases and both are 35-year-old males. Both of them had contact with the index case at the hospital. At the time of writing, they were both being hospitalized in isolation. So far, a cumulative total of 15 MERS-CoV cases have been confirmed in Korea. Fortunately, the spread of MERS-CoV has only happened among contacts of the confirmed cases in hospital and there is no ongoing community transmission of MERS-CoV cases in Korea. Nonetheless, several of the close contacts are still in the incubation period. Hence, the possibility of new MERS-CoV cases in Korea remains. Taiwan CDC will continue to closely monitor the development of the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), during September 2012 and May 31, 2015, a total of 1,150 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 431 related deaths, have been confirmed, excluding the two new cases announced by South Korea on May 31. The majority of the cases were reported in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV cases continue to occur around the world. Thus far, MERS-CoV has been reported in 25 countries.

Although most of the MERS-CoV cases reported to date were confirmed in the Middle East, the importation of the disease remains possible through frequent international trade and travel. Airports, airline companies and travel agencies are urged to pay additional attention to the health of travelers. Travelers planning to visit countries in the Middle East are urged to pay attention to personal hygiene, respiratory protection and hand cleanliness and avoid visiting any farms and all direct contact with camels, including drinking un-pasteurized camel milk, to reduce the risk of infection. If you have experienced symptoms such as fever, cough or influenza-like illness, and diarrhea upon your arrival in Taiwan, please notify the quarantine officer at the quarantine station at airports/harbors immediately and put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention and inform your physician of any recent travel and exposure history. Taiwan CDC urges physicians to be sure to inquire suspected patients their travel, occupation, contact and cluster (TOCC) history and reinforce the reporting of suspected cases to ensure prompt treatment and subsequent implementation of the relevant prevention and control measures. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).