The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said that three of the more than 200 people placed on a monitoring list in response to an ongoing avian influenza outbreak have shown flu-like symptoms.
“As of this morning [yesterday] a total of 234 poultry farm workers and epidemic prevention personnel have been put on the list, including 94 employees from a layer chicken farm on Pingtung County’s Dawu Mountain (大武山) and 140 workers at six duck or goose farms in southern Taiwan,” CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.
Chuang said that of these 234 people, three have exhibited flu-like symptoms, including a sore throat, coughing and a stuffy nose, adding that the centers have taken samples from the trio for testing, the results of which are expected today.
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Although there are no known cases of avian influenza virus subtypes H5N2 and H5N8 having jumped the species barrier to infect humans, Chuang said that since it is the first time that the H5N8 strain has been detected in the nation, the centers want to draw blood from people who may have been exposed to the strain to evaluate its potential effects on humans.
“Nevertheless, since it is now the peak season for influenza and adenovirus infections, the trio’s symptoms could have nothing to do with the avian flu outbreak and the public is urged not to panic,” Chuang said.
The centers advised people to refrain from purchasing or rearing unknown species of poultry; to ensure that chicken and eggs are fully cooked before consumption; and to thoroughly clean all cooking utensils used to prepare food after use.
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
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