The Epidemic and Interventions in Imported Typhoid among Indonesian Labors in 2009

Li-Jue Wu1, Wan-Chin Chen2, Min-Cheng Lin1, Shih-Yan Yang1

2011 Vol.27 NO.5

Correspondence Author： Li-Jue Wu

Abstract：

Typhoid fever is a gastrointestinal infectious disease that mostly happens in developing countries. The incidence has substantially decreased in developed countries. There were about 33~34 confirmed typhoid cases per year in Taiwan from 2006 to 2008, among which Indonesian labors accounted for about 8~19 imported typhoid cases each year. From January to May in 2009, 17 imported typhoid cases were confirmed, which was 3 times the number of the same period in 2008. Therefore Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) carried out some preventive measures, such as reinforcing publicity and adding typhoid screening test to Indonesian labors’ health examination. The case numbers of imported typhoid among Indonesian labors reached its peak in April and May 2009, and gradually decreased after CDC’s intervention measures. In the end, a total of 60 cases were confirmed in 2009. From January to June in 2010, there were only four imported typhoid cases from Indonesian labors, which was fewer than 35 cases in the same period in 2009 and 11 cases in 2008. This article documented the epidemic situation, related measures and prevention efficacy of imported typhoid fever among Indonesian labors in 2009.