Due to the fact that the Zika virus epidemic around the world is slowing down, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on November 18 last year that the Zika virus is no longer designated a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Since the central government and local governments in Taiwan had formed the Central Zika Virus Epidemic Command Center, among other contingency plans in response to the Zika epidemic, the Center was now dissolved on January 26, 2017 with approval from the Executive Yuan. In the future, disease prevention work in Taiwan will return to its normal state, with focuses on improving the monitoring of outbreaks and cases, enhancing community mobilization and promotion of health education, improving the monitoring and control of disease vectors, establishing a comprehensive medical examination and clinical care system, enhancing research and development, and strengthening international cooperation as well as inter-departmental division of labor and cooperation to combat the challenges posed by the Zika virus.

Since the establishment of the Central Zika Virus Epidemic Command Center on February 2, 2016, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and other central government agencies have been working with local governments on several fronts, including preparing resources for disease prevention, border inspection and quarantine, disease prevention measures for expatriates, public health education, resources for medical care and examination, and the identification and elimination of vector breeding grounds. The efforts of the aforementioned agencies were successful in preventing the Zika virus from spreading in Taiwan. Only 13 Zika cases, all of whom were imported cases, were found in Taiwan, and no pregnant women or infants were infected.

In the future, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will continue to pay close attention to the latest epidemic reports and recommended prevention measures from the WHO and the international community in order to continually update the prevention measures in Taiwan. The “Executive Yuan Joint Meeting for Major Diseases Transmitted by Mosquitos” will be regularly held to strengthen communication, coordination, and cooperation between central and local agencies. The CDC will supervise and assist city and county governments in Taiwan in implementing measures to prevent Zika cases from occurring. It will also cooperate with the National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center[C1]  to develop new technologies for disease prevention and use scientific methods to help with disease prevention in local areas to deal with the long-term challenges posed by the Zika virus.

Since 2015, Zika cases have been discovered in more than 70 countries/territories around the world. With the exception of a few countries, the Zika epidemic is slowing down in South America and the Caribbean region. Zika cases have recently been reported in Southeast Asian countries, thus the situation in the region warrants close monitoring. The CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert to 66 countries/territories that still have Zika outbreaks or have the possibility of transmitting the virus to Taiwan. Additionally, Laos and three other countries have had Zika outbreaks in the past, but no new cases were reported in these countries in 2016, thus it is recommended that these countries receive the designation of Level 1: Watch.

The CDC is recommending that those who need to travel to Zika-affected areas should take anti-mosquito measures. People are also advised to abide by the “1+6 Principle” (do not donate blood within one month; practice safe sex by always wearing a condom and avoid pregnancy within six months) after returning to Taiwan from Zika-affected areas, and people are also recommended to take anti-mosquito measures for three weeks after returning. After returning to Taiwan, if travelers suspect symptoms of Zika infection, they should immediately inform the inspection and quarantine personnel at the airport. If they feel sick/discomfort within two weeks of returning, they should also seek medical help immediately and inform the doctor of their travel history. For more information, please visit the website of the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov.tw) or call the toll-free disease prevention hotline (+886-800-001922).