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Health officials confirm 10th case of swine flu

By Jimmy Chuang
CNA AND STAFF REPORTER
Friday, May 29, 2009, Page 2

The Central Epidemics Command Center (CECC) confirmed another imported case of A(H1N1) influenza yesterday, bringing to 10 the number of cases in the country.

“The 10th case is a 26-year-old Taiwanese male. He could be the first imported case from China or Hong Kong given his travel history,” CECC spokesman Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) told a news conference.

The man was in Guizhou Province from May 13 to May 22 and arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport last Saturday on a flight from Hong Kong, Shih said.

He attended a computer class with 29 other people on Sunday and then on Monday developed flu-like symptoms, including a fever and fatigue, Shih said.

Tests on Monday confirmed that he had swine flu, Shih said.

The man told health officials that he had come into contact with travelers from the US and Japan while shopping in the duty-free shops at Hong Kong’s airport.

The CECC said the man’s parents and sister have received prophylactic medication, while the 17 people who were part of his tour group to China and 30 others who had contact with him were told to monitor their health for any signs of flu.

None of the others have reported flu symptoms, Shih said.

To order to avoid panicking the public, the CECC will no longer give the flight numbers of people who develop swine flu unless there was evidence to show that the virus was contracted during the flight, Shih said.

He reiterated earlier official comments that there was no need for people to wear facemasks in public because the swine flu alert remains at the third level after being raised on Monday and there have been no community infections.

As of press time, the first two people diagnosed with swine flu in this country have been discharged from hospital.

Also See: Swine flu deaths surpass 100 mark
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