As the H7N9 avian influenza outbreak in China seems to show signs of slowing down and the first confirmed patient in Taiwan is recovering, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a Level 1 (“Watch”) travel notice for 14 Middle Eastern countries, as seven novel coronavirus infections have been recently reported in the area.
On the developments surrounding the H7N9 virus, CDC deputy director Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) told a press conference yesterday that he agrees with the comment made by an expert earlier this week saying that the activity of H7N9 virus might be contained in the summer due to high temperatures, as occured with many other avian influenza viruses.
“Also, China has closed down a lot of live poultry markets. This probably also helped to contain the spread a great deal,” Chou said.
However, he said that the research work on the vaccine development will continue as scheduled.
The patient with the first imported case of H7N9 flu is said to be recovering.
National Taiwan University Hospital deputy superintendent Chang Shan-chwen (張上淳) said earlier yesterday that the patient infected with the H7N9 bird flu virus “is getting better,” adding that the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support system has been removed from the patient.
Meanwhile, the CDC reported that it had been notified by the WHO that Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has reported seven confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection, five of which were fatal and two in critical condition.
The new cases raise the global count of novel coronavirus infections to 24, with 16 deaths.
In the wake of the outbreak, the CDC issued a Level 1 travel notice, which advises travelers to follow usual precautions, for 14 countries in the Middle East — Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department
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