In addition, an epidemics operation center was established by the Executive Yuan to grasp the latest development. Shih Wen-yi (施文儀), deputy director-general of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) under the DOH, said the Center had obtained a strain of swine flu for examination and that they were now able to detect any swine flu coming into the border to avert a major outbreak.

When the travel alert had been issued, travelers going to or returning from the region will be notified the development of the disease and be asked to take caution. Once they have symptoms of fever or headache, they will be rushed to medical facilities for immediate treatment, said Shih.

The Center is getting in touch with the World Health Organization and will adjust the travel alert along with international measures, said Shih. If the warning to the Central American country is elevated to the highest fourth level, travelers will be advised to cancel unnecessary trips to affected areas. People can log on CDC website for more information: http://www.cdc.gov.tw.

81 people have so far died of the H1N1 swine flu in Mexico, with thousands being affected. 11 infected cases were confirmed in the U.S., with 7 in California, 2 in Texas, 2 in Kansas, all in regions of high Mexican population. 83 suspected cases were also reported in densely-populated New York City.

The swine flu symptoms are similar to influenza, including high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle, joint pains, running nose, chest, abdominal pain, and serious pneumonia. The fatality rate in Mexico is 6.7 percent, with an unusual high number of deaths between 25 to 40-years-olds.

by Taiwan News, Staff Writer