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Taiwan sets up command center to counter swine flu

ROC Central News Agency

2009.04.28 16:42:33

By Y.L. Kao

Taipei, April 28 (CNA) The Department of Health (DOH) set up a central command center Tuesday to prevent a possible swine flu outbreak in Taiwan as the virus continues to spread around the world.

The DOH took the step after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza pandemic alert to phase 4 from phase 3 earlier in the day, indicating that there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus.

Established at a meeting of cross-government agencies, the center will focus on strengthening surveillance for swine flu at boundary control points and raising travel warnings for the United States and Mexico and other areas affected by the virus, Minister Yeh Ching-chuan said.

Although no cases of the influenza have been reported in Taiwan, Yeh said the virus would eventually find its way into the country and that Taiwan had to be well prepared for the worst possible scenario.

The government has also mapped out a national flu pandemic strategy in response to the threat, which includes establishing a channel to co-ordinate the replenishment of medication and vaccine stockpiles among various government agencies, he indicated.

The flu virus that has struck Mexico is a new strain of the H1N1, which appears to be easily passed from person to person, and is a mixture of the swine, human and avian flu viruses.

The World Organization for Animal Health said in a statement that the virus should not be called swine flu because it has yet to be isolated in pigs, and Yeh reiterated that people would not get infected with the flu by eating pork.

The virus is being transmitted, he said, by people coming in physical contact with people who have the flu.

Yeh assured local residents that Taiwan has a sufficient supply of surgical masks and vaccine to deal with the flu. The DOH has 50 million to 60 million masks in stock and local manufacturers have the capability of producing 200,000 doses of the flu vaccine a month, he said.

Health care and ambulance workers and custom officials would be given top priority for receipt of the vaccine, Yeh noted.

Taiwan also has enough stockpiled Tamiflu, the best available medicine against the H1N1 flu, to treat up to 2.3 million people-- one-tenth of Taiwan's total population, Yeh added.

The country also has three manufacturers capable of producing Tamiflu if necessary, he said.

The government will also earmark a special budget, use TV channels and set up commander centers in all cities and counties around the country to promote information and measures on flu prevention, Yeh said.