China's Hubei reports first H7N9 case this year

According to the latest information from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hubei Province in China confirmed an H7N9 case in the province on April 26, the first this year (2015); the Taiwan CDC immediately raised its travel advisory level for Hubei Province to Level 2, "Alert." The Taiwan CDC reminds Taiwanese businesspeople and people planning to travel to the area to maintain good hygiene habits, avoid contact with poultry, and, if respiratory symptoms appear after returning home, to wear a mask and seek medical attention promptly, and never conceal their illness.

Travel advisory levels are divided into three tiers, from highest to lowest severity: Level 3 "Warning," Level 2 "Alert," and Level 1 "Watch"; "Alert" means that early warning should be strengthened and enhanced protective measures should be adopted for the local area.

According to Taiwan CDC statistics, since October 1 of last year (2014), a total of 202 H7N9 influenza cases have accumulated, with Guangdong Province at 72 cases, Fujian Province at 39 cases, and Zhejiang Province at 38 cases being the highest; globally since 2013, a total of 655 cases have accumulated, including 4 cases in Taiwan, China.

The Taiwan CDC urges the public that if fever or flu-like symptoms appear upon returning home, they should immediately inform airline personnel and airport and port quarantine personnel, and wear a mask while seeking medical attention; during diagnosis and treatment, they must also inform the physician of their contact history and travel history. If there are any questions, they can call the paid epidemic prevention hotline 1922, or 0800-001922 for inquiries.