Ten swine flu or influenza A(H1N1) cluster infections have been confirmed, Department of Health (DOH) officials said yesterday.
“Except for one that occurred in late June, the other nine cluster infections were confirmed in the past two or three days,” Centers for Disease Control (CDC) spokesman Lin Ting (林頂) told a press conference.
The cluster infections involved students who were attending summer study programs, migrant workers at local factories and military servicemen posted on outlying islands, Lin said.
“It is good to know that all these victims have minor symptoms. They only need a good rest and to take medicine on time to recover,” he said.
Lin warned, however, that while the culprit in all these cluster infections was the influenza A(H1N1) virus, the seasonal flu virus influenza A(H3N2) has also been identified in specimens collected from these cases for lab testing.
The CDC is closely monitoring possible mutations of the virus, he said.
As of yesterday, the center had a total of six severe cases of swine flu, one of whom died on Thursday afternoon while three remained in critical condition, Lin said.
For the first fatality, the CDC said the patient had a long history of liver and kidney disease and that as a result of his underlying health problems, the patient fell into critical condition after contracting the swine flu virus early last month.
DOH Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川), who was inspecting the CDC’s branch in Taichung to review its epidemic-fighting operations, said that locally produced swine flu vaccines would be ready for human inoculation in November at the earliest.
“Research on the vaccine is proceeding smoothly and the manufacturer — Adimmune Corp — has promised to deliver the product at the end of September. As the vaccine has to undergo clinical trials, it will therefore not be ready for use until November at the earliest,” Yeh said.
The DOH has ordered 5 million doses of the vaccine from Adimmune Corp, in which the government has a stake.
Yeh said the DOH has formed a special task force to monitor progress in A(H1N1) vaccine research and development. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) has also directed the DOH to seek foreign suppliers.
“Now that a locally owned company is on the development track, we will consider importing the vaccine only if foreign suppliers can deliver the product earlier than Adimmune Corp,” Yeh said.
Lin said people aged 20 to 30 are considered the priority group for the vaccine because “this group of people travels around the most, but they are also the most vulnerable group of people who may be affected by the virus.”
Yeh said the DOH would step up its efforts to contain the virus. As part of the campaign, starting this weekend, 300 local hospitals would be allowed to conduct tests and offer anti-viral drugs to people displaying swine flu symptoms.
From Aug. 15, other doctors contracted by the Bureau of National Health Insurance will begin offering tests and medication, the minister said.
Meanwhile, a group of CDC staff members canceled their long-planned nationwide tour this weekend amid increasing reports of swine flu infections.
Several local schools were shut down on Thursday after the first swine flu fatality in the country was confirmed.
The Ministry of Education also announced yesterday that any school with a confirmed case should be closed for seven days to contain the spread of the disease.
If the situation is severe, the ministry said, the school’s closure could be extended to 10 days.
At the same time, should two schools in the same city or county each have a confirmed swine flu case or cluster infections, local governments can order all schools in the district or nearby region to be shut down for a week or so, ministry officials said.
Wang Chun-chuang (王俊權), director of the ministry’s Physical Education Department, urged local students not to go to school if they develop flu symptoms.
GUIDELINES
Wang said the ministry would hold a meeting on Tuesday to work out guidelines to prevent the spread of swine flu after schools reopen next month.
The general guiding principle, he said, would be that any nationwide school closure plan over swine flu concerns would be announced by the Central Epidemics Command Center.
At a separate setting yesterday, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lashed out at Yeh for not doing enough to combat the A(H1N1) virus and said he should either focus on the fight or resign.
QUELLING CONCERN
“The H1N1 [sic] situation in Taiwan is on the brink of being out of control. But we don’t see our health authority — be it the DOH or the CDC — stepping up efforts to quell public concerns,” acting DPP spokesman Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said.
Chao said he suspected the government’s lack of concern could be because Yeh planned to run for Hualien County commissioner or Taipei mayor in the December elections.
RESIGN
“If his focus is on the race, then he should resign immediately. The public deserve a health minister who will pour all of his time and energy into safeguarding the nation’s health as his top priority,” Chao said.
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