Publication Date : 01-05-2013
Taiwan is tightening up disease- control measures against the H7N9 bird flu virus in anticipation of a April 29-May 1 national holiday in China, when over 15,000 Chinese group tourists are expected to visit the nation, the Tourism Bureau said yesterday.
Taiwan could see 15,170 group tourists over China's three-day Labour Day holiday, the bureau said, adding that up to 6,000 more tourists are likely to arrive under a travel program that allows Chinese nationals to travel to Taiwan without having to be part of a tour group.
Although the tourist influx could remain similar to the level during last year's holiday between May 1-3, the bureau said, it has asked travel agencies across the Taiwan Strait to take extra precautionary measures.
The public has issued concerns over whether a holiday travel surge could threaten Taiwan's epidemic control against the H7N9 avian flu outbreak in China, which has reported 125 confirmed H7N9 cases as of April 29, according to Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Nearly half of the group tourists come from the areas under Taiwan's Level 2 travel advisory. Those areas are now classified as outbreak zones of the avian virus. The advisory asks travelers to exercise extreme caution and take strong protective measures if they have to visit the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Henan, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Fujian, Jiangxi and Hunan, or the cities of Shanghai and Beijing.
Meanwhile, the CDC yesterday urged all mainland visitors to Taiwan to return home immediately for treatment if they are found to be feverish or suspected of carrying the H7N9 virus by customs screening.
In addition, talks are ongoing to initiate legislative changes to divert the burden of medical expenses relating to treatment of virus carriers from the government to the afflicted individuals, stated the CDC.
Due to humanitarian considerations, individuals may be allowed to receive treatment within Taiwan's boarders, depending on severity, said the CDC, while nonsevere mainland patients are advised to receive treatment abroad.
At present, as there is no proof that the virus can be transmitted among humans, and no international precedents of travel restrictions based on the virus, therefore the government will not impose a ban on mainland visitors during the holiday week, said the CDC.
With a report from CNA
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