TFFLU01: TAIWAN CONFIRMS FOUR ADDITIONAL H1N1

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000622 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS OES/IHA, OES/IHB FOR AMB LOFTIS, HHS FOR MARK ABDOO, CDC ATLANTA FOR CCID, BANGKOK FOR CDC BAGGETT, USDA/FAS FOR OFSO/WAINIO OSTA/HAMILTON, OCRA/BEILLARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR CASC KFLO TBIO PREL HHS TW SUBJECT: TFFLU01: TAIWAN CONFIRMS FOUR ADDITIONAL H1N1 CASES REF: TAIPEI 609 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. SUMMARY. On May 21, Taiwan health authorities confirmed the second, third, fourth and fifth cases of H1N1 in Taiwan. All cases with the exception of one came on flights originating in the U.S. The exception is a Taiwan female who flew in from Manila. To date no community spread of the virus has been detected. The Ministry of Education has issued a circular urging schools to defer study tours to H1N1 affected countries such as Mexico and they have also suspended MOE funded educational exchanges with Japan. END SUMMARY ¶2. The first case, which arrived in Taiwan May 18, remains under quarantine in Taoyuan General Hospital. 57 of 59 passengers who were seated in close proximity to the first H1N1 case have tested negative for the H1N1 virus. Test results for the remaining two individuals, both Amcits, are still pending as of the afternoon of May 22. ¶3. The second confirmed H1N1 case is a Taiwan passport holder returning from study in the U.S. who flew from New York on May 19 Cathay Pacific CX 831 to Hong Kong and then continued to Taipei via CX 468 on May 20. She was stopped at the fever monitoring station in Taoyuan Airport with a fever of 38.6 C and then sent to the Taoyuan General Hospital and quarantined. A total of 55 persons seated in proximity of the patient have been located and samples taken for testing. Results of these tests are still pending. ¶4. The third H1N1 case also concerns another Taiwan passport holder returning from a short term language program in the U.S. She took Eva Airways flight BR17 from San Francisco on May 20 arriving at Taoyuan airport on May 21. She was detected with a temperature of 38 degrees C and referred to the Taoyuan General Hospital for treatment. Taiwan health authorities have also tracked down 11 persons who were seated in her proximity and obtained samples for testing. Again, test results are still pending. ¶5. The fourth case, a female Taiwanese passport holder, arrived from the Philippines on May 20 on board flight PR ¶896. She showed no symptoms upon entry but checked into a hospital after developing a fever. Health authorities are closely watching her case and that of her daughter who is also showing signs of fever. ¶6. The fifth case is the sister of the third H1N1 case who was coughing at the time she returned with her sister to Taiwan but did not have fever symptoms. Because cases four and five were only detected after they went home and had multiple contacts with their friends and relatives in different areas, health authorities are urging those who came into close contact with those individuals to take preventive medicine and exempted them from sampling and testing. On May 21, the Ministry of Education issued a circular letter made public advising schools not to organize study tours to areas affected by the H1N1 virus. The letter also announced that official MOE-funded study trips to Japan have been suspended for the time being. ¶7. A TCDC contact told us that they are confident that airlines are familiar with proper procedures in case a passenger is found with fever or flu symptoms. With the sudden increase in cases of the H1N1 virus, health authorities are most concerned about community spread of the virus. They are also concerned about a Fall return of the H1N1 virus and TCDC recently ordered 1.5 additional doses of Tamiflu to supplement their existing stock of 2.3 million doses to ensure an adequate supply of Tamiflu is on hand to counter a potential outbreak later in the year. YOUNG