The Central Epidemics Command Center (CECC) yesterday lowered the nation’s swine flu alert from level three to level two, meaning that while Taiwan has imported A(H1N1) cases, no spreading at the community level has been observed.
The drop was announced as the nation’s 7th confirmed flu case — the first person to contract the virus without traveling abroad — left quarantine after seven days yesterday.
No other domestic cases have been reported.
“Case 7” is believed to have contracted the virus while dining with a woman and her daughter — “Case 4” and “Case 6” — after they returned from the Philippines, CECC spokesman Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said yesterday.
After a week in quarantine, “Case 7” has recovered well, Shih said.
Meanwhile, the CECC confirmed the nation’s 12th imported case yesterday.
“The patient is a 33-year-old male Taiwanese businessman. While on a business trip to New York to visit a client on May 12, the patient stayed with his parents at their residence in New York City. He had a meal with his elder sister, who had a fever,” Shih said.
“As the man traveled first class to Hong Kong, he did not come into contact with many passengers on the flight,” Shih said.
For his flight from Hong Kong to Taiwan on Wednesday, however, the man traveled in economy class, Shih said.
The man, who by then had a mild headache and stuffy nose, went to a movie with his spouse and three friends on Thursday, Shih said.
The man was quarantined on Saturday after he checked into the Taipei Veterans General Hospital emergency room on Friday, complaining of a fever. Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus on Saturday, Shih said.
“Of the 44 people who have been in contact with ‘Case 12’ — including his wife, movie buddies and passengers sitting within three rows in front and back of him during his flight to Taiwan — 42 have been contacted by the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] and none has shown symptoms of H1N1,” Shih said.
However he said that because “Case 12” wore a facemask during his flight to Taiwan and at the movie theater, the only person who faced higher risks of contracting the virus was the man’s wife. Consequently, the CDC gave her flu medication.
To avoid causing panic, the CECC said last week it would no longer announce flights on which swine flu patients traveled, unless evidence shows that the virus was contracted during flight.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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