After checking with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Command Center confirmed that a total of five new H7N9 avian influenza cases had occurred (3 in Jiangsu Province, 1 in Zhejiang Province and 1 in Jiangxi Province) between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today (April 27), excluding Fujian Province’s first confirmed case, which was announced yesterday afternoon (April 26). As of now, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in mainland China is 118 (33 in Shanghai City, 27 in Jiangsu Province, 45 in Zhejiang Province, 4 in Anhui Province, 4 in Henan Province, 1 in Beijing City, 1 in Shandong Province, 2 in Jiangxi Province and 1 in Fujian Province). Of these, there were 23 deaths (12 in Shanghai City, 4 in Jiangsu Province, 6 in Zhejiang Province and 1 in Anhui Province). Currently, areas affected by H7N9 avian influenza in the mainland China include Shanghai City, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Henan Province, Beijing City, Shandong Province, Jiangxi Province and Fujian Province. 

Between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today, a total of 22 suspected cases had been reported in Taiwan. Of these, 2 specimens were taken after medical evacuations from the airport (all showed negative result in lab test); 20 cases were reported by medical institutions, of which 3 are under examination and the possibility of H7N9 infection in the remaining cases has been ruled out (2 were tested positive for H3N2 virus, 1 for H1N1 virus, 1 for influenza type B virus and the rest showed negative result). As for the 2 pending cases announced in yesterday’s news release, the possibility of H7N9 infection has been denied (all showed negative result). 

As H7N9 avian influenza cases had appeared in Fujian Province in the mainland China, the Command Center has issued an order to various departments to strengthen quarantine measures in offshore islands, such as Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu, in order to prevent the invasion of H7N9 avian influenza virus to Taiwan via the trial run of “direct trade and transportation links between Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and China.” These measures include: requesting the hospitals affiliated with the Department of Health to handle appropriately the preparation for medical care in the three offshore counties, Kinmen, Lienchiang and Penghu; strengthening the monitoring of the bird flu viruses in those areas and continuing to provide nationals traveling out of the country with relevant health education in the port areas where there are Mini-Three-Links terminals, in order to prevent infection. In regard to the ban on slaughtering/selling live poultry in markets, while it is not applicable to the three offshore counties, Kinmen, Lienchiang and Penghu, the aim is still to apply the ban to the whole nation simultaneously. Currently, there is no stall vendor who slaughters live poultry in the traditional markets in Matsu and Penghu. However, health education on slaughtering live poultry by self-owned stalls will still be strongly promoted. Now there are 8 stall vendors in Kinmen awaiting advice on not slaughtering live poultry in markets, in order to minimize threats to public health. 

The Command Center would like to appeal again: Taiwan nationals who are visiting areas affected by H7N9 avian influenza in mainland China should keep hygienic habits such as washing hands frequently and wearing a mask, refrain from contacting and feeding birds and poultry, avoid visiting traditional live poultry markets and consume only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs. Travelers returning from a H7N9 affected area in the mainland China should wear a mask and consult a doctor immediately when symptoms such as fever and cough appear, and inform the doctor of their travel history. For the latest updates on the epidemic situation and information about travel-related infectious diseases, please visit the “H7N9 Flu” and “International Travel Info” pages of the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov.tw). Alternatively, please call the toll-free reporting and care hotline 1922 for enquiry. If calling from a phone that cannot dial short code telephone numbers, please dial the disease prevention hotline 0800-001922.