No human infections of swine flu in Taiwan: health minister
ROC Central News Agency
2009.04.27 16:49:23
By Rachel Chan
Taipei, April 27 (CNA) Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan urged the public Monday to remain calm despite outbreaks of human infections of swine flu in Mexico and the United States, saying that so far, no-one in Taiwan is known to be infected and that the Department of Health (DOH) is watching developments closely.
The DOH also declared the viruses characterized in the swine flu outbreak as new subtypes of the H1N1 virus, a level-one legal infectious disease that requires immediate reporting by hospitals when they encounter such cases, according to Yeh.
His remarks were quoted by Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-bin after attending an inter-government agency meeting hosted by Vice Premier Chiu Cheng-hsiung on coordinating information and preventive measures against the threat of swine flu.
"So far there have been no human infections in Taiwan. People should not panic about the outbreak but should stay alert," Yeh said.
He added that under the framework of the International Health Regulations, to which Taiwan gained entry in early April, the DOH is maintaining close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) to obtain updates on the spread and control of swine flu.
The DOH will take countermeasures in accordance with the WHO after as soon as it updates the latest situation, expected the following day, Yeh said.
A day earlier, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the DOH raised a travel advisory for Mexico to a "regional pandemic" alert against swine flu.
CDC officials said Taiwanese travelers should take strong precautionary measures against swine flu before and after visits to Mexico.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also issued a yellow travel alert for Mexico that same day, the third-highest travel advisory that warns travelers to exercise caution.
"The Foreign Ministry is collecting relevant information and watching closely the development of the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico. Necessary measures will be taken after the WHO meeting scheduled for tomorrow," MOFA spokesman Henry Chen told CNA.
As to concerns about eating pork, Lee Chao-chuan, head of the Tainan City Animal Health Inspection Institute, said there is no safety concern, as long as the pork is properly cooked at over 70 degrees Celsius.
Given that there have been no swine flu cases reported in Taiwan, Lee said the first and most important step is to contain the disease abroad. All pig farms should boost quarantine measures, including disinfection and personnel controls, he added.
The outbraeks of swine flu in Mexico have spread to other parts of the world, raising concerns that it could turn into a global pandemic. The U.S. has declared a "public health emergency" with 20 confirmed cases, while Mexico has more than 100 deaths and 1,600 illnesses attributed to the virus.
Canada and New Zealand have also reported human infections while suspected cases have been identified in Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The WHO has declared the flu a "public health emergency of international concern."
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