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CDC uses expo to reach travelers

Vice Premier Paul Chiu, second right, and Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo, right, don witches’ hats at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Taipei International Travel Fair yesterday. The fair will run through Monday at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. PHOTO: LIAO CHEN-HUEI, TAIPEI TIMES

The first day of the 2008 Taipei International Travel Fair attracted thousands of discount hunters, but travelers should remain aware of high-risk areas so they can return home in good health, a top Centers for Disease Control (CDC) official said.

The centers are among the exhibitors at the expo.

“Travel is a very important factor influencing the spread of diseases,” CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ting (林頂) said.

He urged anyone who develops a fever or diarrhea during or after travel to report their travel histories to their doctor so infectious diseases can be better recorded and controled.

Border screening for sick travelers is key to disease control, Lin said, but so is self-reporting.

CDC statistics as of Oct. 20 show there have been 388 cases of infectious diseases arriving in Taiwan from foreign countries this year.

Most of the cases involved dengue fever, Shigellosis and Acute Hepatitis A, and were linked to travel to Vietnam, Indonesia and China.

The center said travelers planning to visit Southeast Asian should avoid high-risk areas, such as poultry farms, animal disease control areas and hospitals. They should also wear facemasks if they have a fever, cough or runny nose and avoid going out while sick.

“Avoid eating foods that have not been fully cooked,” Lin said.

Many people have the habit of adding raw eggs to foods or sauces, but this is not recommended as it increases one’s exposure to avian influenza viruses, Lin said.

“Avoid eating fruit that has already been cut, and drink packaged or bottled [water and other beverages],” he said.

The center’s booth at the travel expo features demonstrations and games to teach the public about disease prevention, the 1922 disease control hotline, avoiding diseases when traveling as well as border screening and self-reporting.

The center also urged those who qualify for free flu inoculations to get vaccinated soon, as there is only one more month until the free program ends. As of Thursday, 1.8 million people had received flu shots, equivalent to about 60 percent of the number of doses purchased this year.

Free flu shots are available for children between six months and three years old, seniors aged 65 and older, medical and epidemic control personnel, bird and poultry industry handlers and detainees in public and private shelters.

Elementary school students in grades one through four are also eligible for the free innoculation.
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