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Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_...ss=news_Health
Over half of Taiwan H1N1 cases originate in Thailand
Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2009-06-14 05:51 PM
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) ? Over half of Taiwan?s 49 cases of H1N1 swine flu cases were imported from Thailand, the Central Epidemics Command Center announced Sunday.
The center raised the total of cases to 49 from 44 Sunday, with a total of 25 cases imported from the Southeast Asian country.
Nevertheless, Taiwan was not planning to ban travel to Thailand, which remained on the yellow alert list, meaning travelers headed for that country should be cautious about their health.
Center spokesman Shih Wen-yi said it was better for the time being not to travel to areas where H1N1 was prevalent. If one showed flu symptoms such as high fever and a cough within seven days of returning home, one should wear a mask, avoid crowded places, and seek hospital treatment, he said.
Originally, most of the infections were imported by travelers arriving from the United States, with later a couple of cases emerging from Australia and the Philippines. A total of 17 had been infected in the U.S., including two of the five new cases announced on Sunday.
Only one of the cases had been infected inside the country, but most of the early patients left hospital after a week of quarantine. Taiwan has recorded no fatalities from the virus.
However, over the past week, more than a dozen members of student graduation tour groups were found with high fever upon their return from Thailand. The young people later tested positive for H1N1.
Shih said the Thai authorities had ordered the temporary closure of a nightclub in the beach resort of Pattaya which was a popular stopping-off point for Taiwanese tour groups. The official called on travelers to avoid crowded spots such as pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment spots where it might be easier to be infected.
The number of Taiwanese booking trips to Thailand had dropped by 20 percent to 30 percent compared to last year because of the H1N1 outbreak, the Chinese-language United Evening News reported Sunday. Many tour groups spend three nights of the average five- to six-day trip in Pattaya, but travelers should not worry too much, the paper quoted travel officials as saying.
Over half of Taiwan H1N1 cases originate in Thailand
Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2009-06-14 05:51 PM
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) ? Over half of Taiwan?s 49 cases of H1N1 swine flu cases were imported from Thailand, the Central Epidemics Command Center announced Sunday.
The center raised the total of cases to 49 from 44 Sunday, with a total of 25 cases imported from the Southeast Asian country.
Nevertheless, Taiwan was not planning to ban travel to Thailand, which remained on the yellow alert list, meaning travelers headed for that country should be cautious about their health.
Center spokesman Shih Wen-yi said it was better for the time being not to travel to areas where H1N1 was prevalent. If one showed flu symptoms such as high fever and a cough within seven days of returning home, one should wear a mask, avoid crowded places, and seek hospital treatment, he said.
Originally, most of the infections were imported by travelers arriving from the United States, with later a couple of cases emerging from Australia and the Philippines. A total of 17 had been infected in the U.S., including two of the five new cases announced on Sunday.
Only one of the cases had been infected inside the country, but most of the early patients left hospital after a week of quarantine. Taiwan has recorded no fatalities from the virus.
However, over the past week, more than a dozen members of student graduation tour groups were found with high fever upon their return from Thailand. The young people later tested positive for H1N1.
Shih said the Thai authorities had ordered the temporary closure of a nightclub in the beach resort of Pattaya which was a popular stopping-off point for Taiwanese tour groups. The official called on travelers to avoid crowded spots such as pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment spots where it might be easier to be infected.
The number of Taiwanese booking trips to Thailand had dropped by 20 percent to 30 percent compared to last year because of the H1N1 outbreak, the Chinese-language United Evening News reported Sunday. Many tour groups spend three nights of the average five- to six-day trip in Pattaya, but travelers should not worry too much, the paper quoted travel officials as saying.
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