Biological Disaster Prevention and Response System in Taiwan

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20160202.32(3).002

Ching-Shun Hsiao^＊, Yu-Ju Lin, Yi-Chien Chih, Shu-Mei Chou, Chin-hui Yang

2016 Vol.32 NO.3

Correspondence Author： Ching-Shun Hsiao^＊

Abstract：

In 2003, the outbreak of the SARS epidemic in Taiwan highlighted the problem of inter-departmental coordination. Therefore, Central Disaster Prevention and Response Council decided to set up an inter-ministerial command center and integrated biological disaster into the operation of Disaster Prevention Act. In addition, the Taiwan Center for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) revised the Communicable Disease Control Act in 2004 in order to include the establishment of a Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) based onthe Act. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and 2013 H7N9 avian influenza epidemic, Taiwan CDC followed the Communicable Disease Control Act to set up CECC, and effectively integrated the resources from the ministries. This study reviewed the operation of CECC in 2009 and 2013 while investigating the difference between Disaster Prevention Act and Communicable Disease Control Act.