Taipei City Government

In response to World Health Organization’s declaration of Zika virus as a public health emergency of international concern, Mayor Ko Wen-je instructed Department of Health (DOH) to establish an emergency response center to address this issue on February 2, with Ko serving as the convener.
The first meeting of the emergency committee held on February 3 concluded that the city government will take the following measures: enforcing monitoring and reporting system at medical institutions; tracking arriving visitors’ health conditions during the Chinese New Year Holiday; implementing vector control; raising public awareness on the disease; preparing disaster control products, among other cross-departmental actions.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the first imported case of Zika infection on January 19, 2016. In light of this, DOH has advised the city’s 41 medical institutions along with Taipei Doctor Association to increase alert levels and conduct health checks for pregnant women. A Q&A section regarding Zika-related information has also been made available on the DOH website since February 2.
According to DOH Commissioner Huang Shier-chieng, Zika virus is transmitted through bites of the mosquitoes that also spread Dengue virus. Those infected with Zika could exhibit symptoms of fever, muscle pain, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and rash lasting for two to seven days.
Pregnant women should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika transmission is ongoing as the disease is related with neonatal malformations and microcephaly.
If you develop the symptoms described above after visiting where Zika virus is found, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of your travel history.
To learn more about Zika virus, please call 1999 Citizen Hotline or the DOH disease control hotline at 02-2375-3782.