The Central Epidemic Command Center continues to step up quarantine and monitoring measures on inbound travelers from the mainland China. Currently, H7N9 affected areas in the mainland China include Shanghai City, Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province. After confirming with the mainland China’s health authority, there were 5 new cases (2 in Shanghai, 2 in Jiangsu and 1 in Zhejiang) from 12:00 yesterday (April 10) to 12:00 today (April 11). Cumulative incidences in the mainland China totaled 33 now (with 9 deaths), including 15 people in Shanghai, 2 in Anhui, 10 in Jiangsu, and 6 in Zhejiang. 

All monitoring systems in Taiwan have been rigorously operating. According to the Center for Disease Control’s surveillance data, a total of 8 suspected cases were reported in Taiwan from noon yesterday to noon today, of which 2 specimens were taken after medical evacuations from the airport (still under examination), and the remaining 6 cases were reported by medical care institutions (4 showed negative results in lab test, and 2 under examination). Besides, the 2 cases under examination as announced in the press conference yesterday noon are denied the possibility of H7N9 (1 is H1N1 positive, and the other is negative). 

Meanwhile, the 22 municipal and county/city Public Health Bureaus in Taiwan have been conducting H7N9 preparation and response system inspections on hospitals under their jurisdiction and reporting the progress: inspections have been completed for 238 out of 493 hospitals to be inspected, with 201 hospitals properly completing all the items on the checklist. 

The Command Center would like to appeal again: Taiwan nationals traveling or going on business trips out of the country should keep hygienic habits such as washing hands frequently and wearing a mask, refrain from contacting and feeding birds, and eat only fully 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. 

The latest updates about the epidemic and information about travel-related infectious diseases 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 their phone.