The Center for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday attempted damage control by reiterating health warnings a day after Indonesian health authorities held a press conference in which they attempted to boost tourism to Bali.
While Taiwan's CDC officials have stressed that the recent dysentery outbreak was a result of the shigella bacteria, the press conference held by the Indonesian health officials reported finding only coliform bacillus bacteria in their health investigation.
"The Indonesian delegation was quite rude to come and hold a press conference while only notifying us at the last minute. We've worked very hard to protect Taiwanese tourists from dysentery. The delegation's behavior has been very impolite," said Lin Ding (林頂), deputy director of the CDC, adding that the Indonesian delegate's press conference had contradicted previous CDC health warnings and preventive work.
"It's quite shameful when you have to go to another country to explain your own country's health condition," Lin said.
Lin added that the Indonesian health officials had finally contacted the CDC yesterday afternoon.
"They called, saying, `We want to come over right now, is that okay?' There was no way I could accommodate them at a moment's notice," Lin said.
Lin nevertheless said that since the Indonesian delegation was in Taiwan, the CDC would be willing to work with them. The CDC secretary-general yesterday received the Indonesian visitors.
Lin stressed that people need to trust the CDC's laboratory results, confirming that the outbreak of dysentery was indeed a result of the shigella bacteria that had infected Taiwanese tourists returning from Bali. He also reiterated health warnings for those traveling to Bali.
However, the CDC's criticism of the Indonesian delegation's press conference on Thursday comes one day late.
The CDC had refrained from censuring the contradictory information put forth by the Indonesian delegation during the press conference on Thursday, and responded only upon questioning by the press that the CDC's information should be trusted .
Furthermore, the CDC had offered inaccurate information with regard to the number of dysentery cases in Taiwan when questioned on Thursday, stating that there were 111 cases of dysentery. The CDC yesterday corrected the figure, explaining that there were 114 cases, including three cases of domestic transmission.
"It's obvious that the travel industry and the Indonesian delegates held the press conference in light of falling tourism figures," Lin said.
"People should be able to tell the difference and trust the CDC's scientific findings instead of the empty guarantees of the Indonesian health officials," said Lin, in defense of the CDC's decision not to articulate disapproval of the Indonesian health officials on Thursday.
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