Considering the fact that the Zika virus has spread rapidly in Latin America, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed it as an emergency public-health issue of international concern. The Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan (Taiwan CDC) has announced that in order to enhance the regional defense against outbreaks of the virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has sent serum and antibody positive serum samples of the Zika virus here. These samples arrived on March 14. They will be used to conduct serologic testing to identify the specificities of the Zika virus and improve the integrity and precision of our laboratory diagnosis for the virus. 
Within the “Global Cooperation and Training Framework”, Taiwan also plans to co-organize with the US an “International Workshop on Laboratory Diagnosis for the Zika Virus” from April 13-15. Four speakers from the US and Japan and 26 participants from countries that are high-risk Zika transmission areas in the Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia regions will be invited to attend the training. The workshop will cover Zika virus epidemiology and hands-on laboratory practice. It is hoped that through learning and the exchange of information, the workshop will strengthen the preventive capabilities of countries in these regions against the Zika epidemic. 
According to recent research, local cases of Zika transmission were reported in Laos in 2015, even though no cases have been found there so far this year. The Taiwan CDC therefore issued a Level 1 travel notice (Watch), listing Laos along with 4 other countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Gabon as being under observation for the Zika virus from this day. So far, there are 43 other countries or territories worldwide where local Zika transmission cases have been reported, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel notice (Alert) for these countries. 
Reports around the world showed that local Zika transmission and microcephaly cases were found in two countries including Brazil and French Polynesia. Another 9 countries have reported an increase in the number of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) cases or Zika infection in GBS cases. They include French Polynesia, Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, El Salvador, Venezuela, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Panama. More and more clinical and epidemiological data suggest a possible cause connection between Zika infection and microcephaly/GBS. 
Taiwan CDC advises pregnant women and women planning pregnancy to postpone their trips to Zika-affected areas. If visits are necessary, travelers are advised to conduct self-service health monitoring for at least two weeks after returning from endemic areas, and follow the doctor’s instructions for follow-up examinations. When visiting endemic areas the general public is urged to take precautions against mosquito bites, and use condoms when having sex for at least 28 days after leaving those areas. On re-entering their own country, if they suspect being infected with Zika virus, they should proactively contact officers at the fever screening station at the airport. If feeling unwell within two weeks of their return, they should seek medical attention and inform the physician of their travel history. 
 For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the Taiwan CDC toll-free hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922) for enquiries (available at all times). If calling from another country, please call the international hotline +886-800-001922 (caller is responsible for international telephone fees).