Zika virus prevention measures upped in Taiwan

2016/02/04

A central command center was established by Centers for Disease Control under the ROC Ministry of Health and Welfare Feb. 2 in Taipei City, representing part of the government’s response to preventing a Zika virus outbreak in Taiwan.

The center is tasked with coordinating disease monitoring measures conducted by the administrations of Health Promotion and National Health Insurance. It also serves as a research platform by leading local gynecologists, infectious disease physicians and neurologists on the Zika virus.

One of the first decisions taken by the center was to elevate the Zika virus from a Category Two Notifiable Infectious Disease to Category Five, along with Ebola and MERS-CoV viruses.

ROC Premier Chang San-cheng said initiation of the center is in line with the World Health Organization’s declaration earlier the same day of the Zika virus as a public health emergency of international concern.

“The government is joining global efforts in combating the Zika virus, implementing four strategies involving border quarantine, health care system preparedness, prevention of virus importation and vector control.”

Echoing Chang’s comments, CDC Director-General Steve H. S. Kuo said although there is no significant increase in the number of cases involving Guillain-Barre Syndrome and microcephaly since Taiwan’s first patient was diagnosed with Zika virus Jan. 10, the CDC is taking all necessary steps to safeguard public health.

Adopted measures include easy-to-understand guidelines and regular updates on the CDC website, as well as an advisory for those pregnant not to visit at-risk areas.

Other initiatives include raising travel advisory alerts for the Caribbean, Central and South America, and adding to the watchlist Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives and Thailand.

In October last year, the Brazilian government confirmed the existence of at least 3,500 cases of microcephaly in newborn babies which may be linked to the Zika virus. A total of 26 countries and territories have confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=242021&ctNode=2194&mp=9)