To facilitate prevention of influenza A (H7N9), Taiwan has requested the H7N9 virus strain from the mainland China pursuant to the Cross-strait Cooperation Agreement on Medicine and Public Health Affairs. The virus strain arrived at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) laboratory of the Department of Health this morning under the transportation condition that meets the international biological safety standard. The virus strain will be confirmed and used subsequently for appropriate applications by the CDC staff. This is the first time the governments across the strait exchange biological pathogenic specimens. This model of mutual respect and reciprocal exchange may help protect the health of people on both sides, and push forward the cooperation across the strait in the prevention of infectious diseases to a new stage. The Command Center would like to thank the mainland China for providing the virus strain, and it also looks forward to continued exchange and cooperation. 

The virus strain provided by the mainland China this time was isolated from the patients’ H7N9 virus (Anhui strain). The CDC laboratory has propagated the H7N9 virus strain after receiving it, which will then be used for testing the sensitivity of the existing test kits, and for conducting research on biological characteristics of H7N9 virus and other related studies. Cultivation of H7N9 virus has to be done in a BSL-3 laboratory, with all operational procedures strictly adhering to the biological safety standards. 

In addition, the Command Center has also kept in contact with different parties to have a good understanding of the research and development of H7N9 vaccine worldwide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has agreed to share the H7N9 vaccine with Taiwan once it is developed. 

After checking with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Command Center verified that a total of 4 new cases of influenza A (H7N9) were confirmed on April 19 (1 in Jiangsu Province and 3 in Zhejiang Province). There are an accumulated total of 91 known cases in the mainland China (32 cases in Shanghai City, 22 in Jiangsu Province, 30 in Zhejiang Province, 3 in Anhui Province, 1 in Beijing City and 3 in Henan Province), with 17 deaths (11 in Shanghai City, 3 in Jiangsu Province, 2 in Zhejiang Province and 1 in Anhui Province). Currently, the H7N9 affected areas in the mainland China include Shanghai City, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Beijing City and Henan Province. 

According to the CDC surveillance data, a total of 12 suspected cases were reported in Taiwan from 8:00 a.m. yesterday (April 19) to 8:00 a.m. today (April 20). Two of the specimens were taken after the medical evacuations from the airport, and 10 cases were reported by medical care institutions. The possibility of H7N9 was denied in 7 cases (2 were H3N2 positive, 2 were H1N1 positive, and 3 were negative), and 5 were still under examination. 

The latest updates about the epidemic and related information are available at the “H7N9 Flu” page and “International Travel Info” page of the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov.tw). Alternatively, citizens may also call the toll-free reporting and care hotline 1922, or 0800-001922 disease prevention hotline if short-number calls cannot be made with your phone.