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Nation confirms its
first case of H7N9 avian flu
PATIENT NO. 1: The Taiwanese patient, who claims
not to have had contact with poultry, had worked in China and is the first human
case of the flu outside China
By Mo Yan-chih / Staff reporter, with CNA
A picture made available
yesterday shows the Bali Geese Farm in Bali, New Taipei City, on April 3.
Photo: David Chang, EPA
A 53-year-old Taiwanese man who had worked
in China¡¦s Jiangsu Province has tested positive for the H7N9 avian flu virus,
the Central Epidemic Command Center said yesterday.
The man, who is now in serious condition, is receiving treatment, including
intubation, in a negative-pressure quarantine ward, the center said.
It marked the first confirmed human infection of the new bird flu strain in
Taiwan and also the first confirmed H7N9 case outside of China, the center said.
The infection source of the first imported H7N9 case remained unknown, because
he neither came into contact with poultry or other birds during his stay in
Jiangsu, nor had he eaten raw or undercooked eggs or poultry while there, the
center said.
The patient fell ill three days after his return from China, the center said.
According to the center, 139 people are known to have come into contact with
him. Three of them had close contact, 26 had contact more than seven days ago
(putting them past the infectious period) and 110 are hospital personnel, it
said.
Three of the hospital personnel did not take proper protective measures when
treating or caring for the patient and have developed respiratory symptoms, the
center said, adding that they would be strictly monitored until Saturday.
The center added that all those who have had contact with the patient have been
notified and told to take care of their health.
They will be subject to close monitoring until the infectious period expires,
the center said, adding that public health officials will help people on the
watch list get medical treatment should they develop flu-like symptoms, such as
fever or coughing.
According to the center, the patient is a hepatitis B carrier and also suffers
from hypertension, adding that his H7N9 infection was confirmed yesterday.
The center said it had informed the WHO and China of the case earlier in the
day.
China reported the world¡¦s first confirmed human infections of H7N9 on March 31,
and as of Tuesday, 108 cases had been confirmed in China, with 22 deaths.
The CDC said there is still no evidence that the H7N9 virus has mutated into a
form that will allow sustained person-to-person transmissions.
Later yesterday evening, the Taipei City Government launched its emergency
response mechanism to provide information to the public. It also opened an avian
flu hotline on (02) 2375-3782 to answer questions from those who have concerns
about the flu.
Taipei City¡¦ Department of Health Chief Secretary Chiang Yu-mei («¸§¬ü) said that
people with questions can also call the 1999 Citizen Hotline and that department
members would assist the hotline staff with inquiries about the flu, and seek to
reduce public panic over the first case of H7N9.
Head of the department Lin Chi-hung (ªL©_§») yesterday declined to confirm whether
the first H7N9 case was in Taipei, but said the department will inspect the
facilities of the city¡¦s designated avian flu response hospital, Taipei Hoping
Hospital, and another 16 hospitals that are equipped with quarantine rooms to
prevent a potential outbreak.
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