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Taiwan announces new rules to stem H1N1 infections at schools

ROC Central News Agency

2009/12/03 22:02:21

By H. K. Wang and Flor Wang

Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced Thursday a new rule to partially replace the previous "325" guideline for schools nationwide to follow as part of the government's efforts to stem cluster infections of influenza A(HIN1) among students.

According to the ministry, the new "814" rule requires that individual students who have flu-like symptoms take days off if 80 percent of the students at the school have been vaccinated and have developed immunity against swine flu.

Taiwan began a national swine flu immunization program Nov. l, with people entitled to one free shot in order of priority, starting with typhoon-affected victims, medical personnel in charge of disease control and prevention, and pregnant women.

They were followed by toddlers and preschool children, seriously ill patients, elementary, junior and senior high school students, individuals in the 19 to 24 age bracket and those over 25 years of age at high risk of cardiopulmonary disease.

Next to be vaccinated were healthy people in the 25-49 age bracket and those between 50 and 64 years of age.

Based on the "325" guidelines published Aug. 18 by the Central Epidemics Command Center under the Cabinet-level Department of Health, classes at kindergartens, primary schools and junior and senior high schools, as well as cram schools and day-care centers, must be closed for five days to prevent cluster infections if any two students in the same class are diagnosed with H1N1 within a period of three days.

The MOE made the change on the grounds that the antibody against the virus will develop 14 days after vaccination against the HIN1 virus, ministry officials said.

Schools covered by the "814" rule will no longer be subject to the "325" guidelines.

Following an inspection of an elementary school in Taipei County later Thursday, Education Minister Wu Ching-chi said the spread of influenza A(HIN1) has slowed at schools around the country after the government's immunization program kicked in Nov. 1, with elementary, junior and senior high school students getting shots from Nov. 16-30.

Wu said the number of class closures had dropped in the last week, a sign indicating that swine flu infections have been brought under control after the peak infection season in November.

As of that day, the number of classes closed had fallen to 1,046, down from 1,925 Nov. 27, which accounted for 2 percent of the country's total classes.

Taipei County in northern Taiwan has been the administrative area most affected, having closed up to 25 percent of the county's total classes.