Premier Jiang Yi-huah directed the Department of Health (DOH) to thoroughly examine Taiwan's epidemic response system while drawing lessons from the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that struck the nation. He gave the instructions today after hearing the DOH's report on infectious disease prevention reform in the decade since SARS, as well as the latest countermeasures against the new H7N9 influenza.
Over the past 10 years, Taiwan has safely navigated through H1N1 and other epidemics by mounting strong prevention campaigns, said the premier, but Taiwan cannot lower its guard as disease knows no borders and new viruses are surfacing all the time. He asked the DOH to continue the good fight and work more closely with other countries.
As for the recent outbreak of H7N9 in mainland China, Premier Jiang said the government in Taiwan is planning ahead and prepared for the worst. As early as April 3, the DOH established the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for H7N9 influenza to coordinate communication between central and local governments.
The premier asked the DOH, Council of Agriculture and local governments to take the appropriate prevention and control measures, including monitoring the spread of the virus, raising public awareness of hygiene issues, and averting panic by disseminating information promptly and accurately through the media. He also urged Taiwanese residents planning visits to the mainland to take all precautions.
The H7N9 outbreak represents a challenge to the government's coordination ability, Jiang said, noting that important national policies have always required government-wide cooperation.
"Although our epidemic response mechanism is better now than it was 10 years ago, there is always room for improvement." The premier added that the DOH should make full use of the CECC this time to strengthen inter-agency communication, improve working relationships between central and local authorities, and fill any remaining holes in the system so that the nation can weather this storm safe and sound.