To prepare against the spread of the Zika virus in Taiwan, Premier Chang San-cheng today led the first working meeting of the Zika command center set up by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Early this morning, the World Health Organization declared Zika to be a public health emergency of international concern, Chang said. Pursuant to the Communicable Disease Control Act, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has established a level-3 central epidemic control center and assigned CDC Director-General Steve Kuo to be commanding officer. If conditions warrant, the center can be upgraded to a higher level.
According to the CDC, Taiwan has not recorded any cases of local Zika infection so far, but even one imported case is enough to put the nation on alert. Two weeks ago, an individual arriving from Thailand was flagged by airport officials and later tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease.
The virus is now spreading explosively across Latin America and the Caribbean and raising a wide range of health concerns. Aside from infecting healthy individuals, Zika may affect unborn babies inside the womb and it has been linked to a condition called microcephaly where children are born with smaller-than-normal heads. The virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and only 25 percent of infected individuals show symptoms.
The recent case of imported Zika underscores the importance of border quarantine controls at the nation's airports and harbors, the premier said. Many citizens will be traveling abroad for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, and those returning from Southeast Asia or Zika hotspots should be especially watchful for related symptoms. Those experiencing physical discomfort are urged to get tested at a hospital promptly.
In the strategy against Zika, the CDC will strengthen health and sanitation training, collaborate with international organizations, educate medical personnel, and improve the health care system's diagnosis and treatment capabilities, the MOHW said. To avoid health risks, pregnant women are strongly advised to put off travels to Zika affected countries for the time being.