The Department of Health (DOH) announced yesterday that foreign workers and spouses from Southeast Asia must have their health checked prior to arriving in Taiwan and undergo regular health check-ups during their stays in this country to help prevent the outbreak of epidemic diseases, particularly dengue fever.
Lin Wen-fei (林文斐), quarantine section chief from the DOH's Center for Disease Control (CDC), urged workers and spouses from Southeast Asia to make sure that they have health check-ups prior to departure for Taiwan; within three days of their arrival in Taiwan; and after six months, 18 months and 30 months in Taiwan.
The check-ups should include examinations for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, hepatitis B, parasites and leprosy, Lin said.
Any of these people who are found to have the above-mentioned diseases -- except for parasites, for which re-examinations will be allowed -- and have failed to inform the appropriate health authorities may risk not having their visas extended, Lin said.
Noting that there have been 40 cases of dengue fever confirmed to have been brought in from Southeast Asia so far this year, Lin said that violators either risk having their visas suspended or having their Taiwan employers liable to fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 (US$1,880 to US$9,400).
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