The Department of Health (DOH) has launched enterovirus prevention briefings and is strengthening cooperation and resource integration between central and local governments to fight the disease, Premier Sean Chen announced after listening to the DOH's report on summer communicable disease prevention at the weekly cabinet meeting on June 7.
Chen requested that relevant ministries and local governments cooperate closely to monitor the epidemic, inform citizens, prepare medical support and review the prevention measures of educational and nursing institutions.
"Taiwan has entered the peak season of enterovirus," the premier said. As of June 5, there had already been 60 severe cases reported in 2012, which is more than there were in 2010 or 2011. "There have been no deaths, but the epidemic shows no sign of ebbing. The DOH should focus more on raising public awareness."
Chen also instructed the DOH to step up communication with local governments about the criteria to suspend classes due to the risk of contagion.
Besides the outbreak of enterovirus, there have already been reports of dengue fever in Tainan and Kaohsiung since May, which came earlier than they did in previous years (the first cases usually occur between late June and August).
The constant precipitation around Taiwan of late may have facilitated the breeding of vector mosquitoes. The premier noted that eliminating mosquito breeding areas is the most effective way to prevent the disease, and he urged the DOH and the Environmental Protection Administration to work with local governments to do this.
"Citizens should look after their living environments, but on top of that, ministries and administrations need to clean up the premises under their management," he said.