The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control has obtained the list of passengers who were on the same flight with China’s first imported MERS-CoV case from South Korea and shared it with the National Immigration Agency for them to closely monitor if any of the passengers visits Taiwan. So far, none of the contacts has entered Taiwan. On the other hand, on May 30, 2015, health officials in South Korea reported 3 more MERS-CoV cases and they respectively are a 70-year-old female, 49-year-old female and the spouse of the 49-year-old female patient. All of them had contact with the index case at the hospital. At the time of writing, they were all being hospitalized in isolation. As of now, a total of 13 MERS-CoV cases have been confirmed in Korea. Fortunately, 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. Travelers returning from affected areas and who have been exposed to patients with symptoms are urged to voluntarily inform the physician. Moreover, physicians are advised to heighten vigilance and inquire suspected patients their travel, contact and occupation history.

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, Taiwan CDC will implement relevant quarantine and disease prevention measures outlined in the previously announced “3 Scenarios 3 Scripts” to prevent potential importation of the disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), during September 2012 and May 25, 2015, a total of 1,139 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 431 related deaths, have been confirmed. In addition, since May 26, Korea has reported 9 more cases and China has reported 1 imported case. MERS-CoV cases continue to occur around the world. Thus far, MERS-CoV has been reported in 25 countries. The majority of the cases were reported in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Among these countries, Saudi Arabia has reported the most cases. In addition, most cases have travel history to these affected areas prior to their disease onset. During 2012 and May 28, 2015, Taiwan has reported 16 suspected MERS-CoV cases and MERS-CoV infection has been eliminated in all of them. Currently, Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for MERS-CoV to Saudi Arabia, and a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for MERS-CoV to UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Iran, Oman and Bahrain.

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).