Although the peak period of influenza has passed in Taiwan, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday implemented new prevention policies that would broaden the scope of groups eligible to receive free anti-viral medication.
"While the peak period of influenza activity has passed, we were concerned before that the flu and SARS would cross-infect and therefore set policies allowing senior citizens access to free anti-viral medication" said Su Ih-jen (蘇益仁), the center's director-general.
"Now we're extending the program to include other groups as well," he said.
Four new high-risk groups have been identified and will be included in the program. Individuals over the age of 13 with chronic heart or lung disease or with diabetes are eligible to received anti-viral drugs with the onset of flu symptoms such as fever.
Also, travelers returning from bird-flu affected areas are also a targeted high-risk group and are included in the program.
Schools, the military, nursing homes, and other establishments that see a dense gathering of people will also be carefully watched. If more than three people develop fevers, medication will be given to all who come into contact with those who exhibited symptoms to check further transmission.
In addition, farm workers, butchers, cullers and open-market vendors can take anti-viral medication as a form of prevention even without any symptoms.
The center also pointed out that of the nation's 20,000 clinics and hospitals, only 320 clinics and hospitals have been authorized to distribute the medication. A diagnosis will be made at the clinics and hospitals before medication is given.
According to the center, while enough anti-viral medication to treat up to 130,000 patients was purchased last year, only about 600 doses have been used.
"The peak period of influenza activity is over, but it is important that the flu does not ruin our SARS prevention efforts," Su said.
In related news, the SARS Contingency Committee yesterday brought the nation's SARS alertness level back down to 0 from level A.
Level 0 indicates that there are no reports of SARS cases anywhere in the world; level A that there are SARS cases worldwide; level B that there is a domestic case; and level C that there are multiple domestic cases.
The center explained that China's last SARS patient was discharged from the hospital on Jan. 30 after having fallen ill on Jan. 6, leaving no cases of SARS worldwide.
The center's prevention policies remain unchanged, however, except that it will no longer be keeping a record of passengers from incoming flights from Hong Kong and Macau.
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