Following a report at today's Cabinet meeting on the latest developments of the rabies outbreak, Premier Jiang Yi-huah announced that the cross-ministry taskforce to fight rabies would be immediately upgraded to the level of a central government epidemic command center.
Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo was named the center's commander, and the heads of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Council of Agriculture (COA), Chiu Wen-ta and Chen Bao-ji respectively, were appointed directors. The move was made to bolster efforts to quickly combat and contain the epidemic and ensure citizens' security.
Immediately after the first case of rabies was confirmed on July 16, the response taskforce was convened by Chiu and Chen, with Mao overseeing relevant cross-ministerial coordination, Jiang said. At today's meeting, he thanked the three for their collaboration and efforts in this area over the last two weeks.
Infections of animals have been confirmed in certain townships in Nantou, Yunlin and Taitung counties as well as Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung cities. As yet, 21 ferret-badgers and one Asian house shrew are known to have contracted the disease in total.
"It seems that the spread of rabies is expanding to more regions and species," Jiang remarked. "Although only wild animals have been infected so far, the signs of an epidemic cannot be ignored. At this stage, our chief task is to control the spread of the disease among animals."
The premier instructed the COA and MOHW to continue to strengthen prevention, maintain a sufficient supply of vaccines, proactively supervise local disease control centers' vaccinations of animals in high-risk, mountainous areas and on elementary and junior high school grounds, and conduct various forms of health education campaigns as well as the vaccinations of persons at high risk of infection.
"Central and local authorities must work together to halt the spread of this disease by comprehensively providing accurate preventative information to the public through various channels," Jiang said.
Since there could be differing opinions among experts about epidemiological analysis and prevention methods, the premier asked the COA and MOHW to convene advisory meetings whenever necessary and then clearly explain the procedures adopted by the government to the public.
"Do not base policies on statements about which there is not consensus or on an amalgamation of conflicting views," he said. "After accurate methods are confirmed following the consultation of expert analysis, they must be explained to the public in a detailed fashion. Transparency of information is necessary.
"Meanwhile, every level of government must raise its vigilance and glean knowledge from the prevention experiences of other countries to ensure public safety and make an all-out effort for prevention."