In the effort to prevent the
H1N1 virus from spreading, the
Taichung City Bureau of Health
has already been inspecting
virus-prevention facilities and
equipment since early May this
year.

In order to prevent infectiou
with the H1N1 virus, the
Bureau of Health reminds all
residents that they simply need
to wear a facial mask that
covers the mouth, like the ones
the surgeons wear during
surgery, instead of the N95-
style masks. However, the
most important measure for
avoiding infection is to wash
one's hands as often as
possible, and avoid touching
the eyes, mouth or nose with
one's hands.

The real challenge of fighting the H1N1 flu virus lies in the winter season

Words and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Ann Lee

Although the global spread of H1N1 flu cases has not been as big as expected, confirmed H1N1 strains of the influenza A virus have emerged in Taiwan, China and Japan. The Taichung City Bureau of Health (BOH) has taken this matter into serious consideration and taken action against this contagious virus. Since the beginning of May this year, the BOH's Quality Inspection Section and Pharmaceutical Affairs Section have both been implementing regular inspection procedures to ensure that local medical institutions are following the actual prevention and treatment plan for the H1N1 virus. They have also been checking to ensure all local pharmacies are providing facial masks to the general public. Notes Taichung City Government BOH chief Lin Deng-juin, "As summer is approaching, the spread of the virus should slow down. The real challenge we will face is throughout the fall and winter seasons."

Taichung City Government has already announced the establishment of the "H1N1 New Swine Flu Virus Command Center", and officials and other related personnel have already gathered for a first meeting. At this meeting, hosted by Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu, H1N1 virus center commanding officer Wang Ren-xian announced strategies for the general public to abide by when fighting the virus during this period. Wang pointed out that the fatality rate for the influenza A (H1N1) virus was about 5%. Although this number is not as high as the 10% rate associated with SARS, or the 80% with bird flu, H1N1 is actually still is a highly contagious virus and mainly spreads throughout communities, as can be seen by a rash of infections that started within Mexican communities recently.

Infections to slow down in warmer weather
Wang also stated that as Taiwan slowly approached the warmer season, viruses should not spread as much through the overall population. However, another warning period for this particular virus will come when residents encounter the colder season and the arrival of winter later in the year. Also, given the fact that the Taiwanese government has past experience dealing with SARS, it is hoped that fatality rates can be kept low among Taiwan's population even though the H1N1 virus cannot be stopped from spreading.

Mayor Hu also noted the serious SARS outbreak which caused deaths among the Taichung residents six years ago in 2003. Fortunately, actions taken at the appropriate time stopped the virus from spreading even more severely into the entire community. As this H1N1 virus has already been spreading on a huge scale in Mexico and the southwestern United States, it is necessary to request the cooperation of all government units to do whatever it takes to prevent a similar problem from occurring within Taiwan.

Department Chief Officer Lai Pei-feng of the Third Branch Office of the Health Bureau's Center for Disease Control states that in any case where local residents seem to show signs of being infected by the H1N1 virus, they must be sent to the appropriate medical institutions for a physical examination. Results should be ready about six hours after the actual check-up. She also said that as long as hospitals were equipped with a negative pressure isolation room, it was possible for anyone showing virus symptoms to be admitted and treated with the proper medical procedures. If a hospital does not have a negative pressure isolation room, patients must be sent to designated hospitals within Taichung City, such as the Taichung Hospital (Department of Health, Executive Yuan), according to contingency plans.

The Department of Health has already printed fliers and posters with information that everyone should know about the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, and distributed these to all hospitals and medical facilities prior to May 5, via its health bureaus in different parts of the island.

Washing hands, not a face mask, is the most effective way to fight H1N1
Head BOH officer Lin reminded all first-line medical staff in Taiwan that, in regards to telling people how to prevent being infected by H1N1, those with cold or flu symptoms must wear a face mask, wash their hands as often as possible, and should also try to stay at home and rest, avoiding the outdoors.

On top of that, Lin also wants to remind residents that there should currently be a normal supply of face masks available at local pharmacies and medical facilities, so that there is no need to rush out and buy these masks. If residents are coughing, have a runny nose and/or suffer from signs of fever, they should wear a mask to avoid transferring the virus to others. Washing one's hands properly is also the simplest and most effective way to avoid infection.