H1N1 Epidemic Prevention: The war on a virus

Words and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Naomi Lai

Less than two months since the first local case of an H1N1 new influenza patient in Taiwan, the virus has continued to spread steadily through communities. From early September, the numbers of Taichung patients has grown by the hundreds on a daily basis. To prevent a massive outbreak of the new flu, the Taichung city government issued the 325 Class Suspension Regulation as school started one week early this year, and convened its first H1N1 Epidemic Prevention Meeting on August 28. It has called on all government departments and agencies to pitch in with epidemic-prevention efforts and is appealing to the public to avoid any unnecessary panic.

Understanding your enemy: There's no need for panic
"The new influenza is actually just like any seasonal influenza, as majority of the patients are light cases. But there are still a rare few that develop into critical cases," said Taichung Public Health Bureau Director General Deng-Juin Lin. He has asked the public not to panic because of the virus and emphasized that goal of the nationwide alert and increasing prevention measures was to slow down spread of the new influenza. This can reduce the number of critical cases and avoid overloading or paralyzing medical facilities. The need for prevention is "not because the new influenza is a horrifying disease", he noted.

'Taichung Influenza Express' delivered to every home at the end of last month
"Catch the trend, not the flu! Check your temperatures at home! Wash your hands often! Visit the doctor, stay home from school, stay away from work and wear a mask if you have the flu!" the director general said. To prevent further unnecessary panic arising from a lack of information about H1N1, the city government has issued its first "Taichung Influenza Express" and sent it to every household, elementary school, secondary school, and industrial park area by the end of August. This addresses questions like "What is H1N1?" and "How to prevent and treat the influenza?", and offers other related information.

Boosting medical centers' participation in H1N1 testing and treatment
The Taichung Public Health Bureau had also posted information online about Taichung medical facilities offering H1N1 quick-testing and Tamiflu for public reference. Lin said that so far there were only about 100 medical facilities offering these services. The bureau is still communicating with various other medical facilities in the hope that by the peak of the influenza season in autumn and winter at least 50%, or about 400 of Taichung's hospitals and clinics, will also be offering H1N1 testing and treatment services.

To insure the safety of the public and city government employees, the Taichung city government on September 1 began checking temperatures of public visitors and employees during office hours (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.). Anyone with a temperature higher than 38 degree will be asked to return home until they have recovered.

"Every life is important, and the government will do its best to perfect epidemic prevention," Mayor Jason Hu said. Epidemic prevention regulations in Taichung can be considered among the strictest in the nation and all government departments are cooperating to prevent the further spread of this flu. Temperature-checking measures will also be applied in public areas like malls and shopping centers until the peak of this outbreak passes.