At the first meeting of the newly established Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for H7N9 influenza, Premier Jiang Yi-huah today reassured citizens that the government has taken comprehensive measures against the virus and is confident that Taiwan will pass through the outbreak safely.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), seven cases of H7N9 infection in mainland China have been confirmed. With frequent cross-strait travels imperiling the health of people in Taiwan as well as Taiwanese businesspeople in mainland China, Jiang said monitoring the virus is high on the government's agenda and has directed the DOH to stay on the alert.
The premier asked the DOH to not only track possible infection cases in mainland China and Taiwan but also consolidate communication between central and local governments through the CECC. Epidemic prevention requires precise assessment and timely implementation, Jiang said. He also encouraged citizens to follow health officials' recommendations for staying healthy and safe.
Previous outbreaks such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza have deeply impacted the country, Jiang said, therefore citizens hold high expectations of the government to prevent future epidemics. The government will draw on past experiences to deal with the latest virus outbreak, and standard procedures have been established to enhance preparedness. Although an H7N9 vaccine is not yet available, Taiwan is equipped with the Tamiflu drug and an excellent health care system to fight the outbreak, he added.
Orchestrated by the DOH, today's meeting was also attended by epidemiology experts. The DOH has upgraded the H7N9 influenza to a Category V Notifiable Infectious Disease and launched a series of preventive measures. The CECC was established by the Executive Yuan today in line with the Communicable Disease Control Act.