Taipei (dpa) - The first case of a deadly strain of bird flu
recently discovered in humans has been found in Taiwan, the island's
Department of Health said Wednesday. It is the first infection to be
discovered outside mainland China.
The patient who tested positive for the H7N9 strain of avian
influenza was a 53-year-old man who went on a two-week business trip
to China's eastern coastal province of Jiangsu.
The man returned to Taiwan April 9 and began experiencing flu-like
symptoms three days later. He reported to hospital April 16, and
later tests revealed his infection.
Mainland China's H7N9 outbreak, which was first discovered in
March, has spread to seven provinces, infected 108 people and killed
22, according to the World Health Organization.
This month, Taiwan health authorities implemented mandatory checks
for passengers coming into Taiwan with fevers and recommended that
anyone who becomes ill after a trip to China should notify
authorities for health care and quarantine.
They said they had tested 128 people for possible H7N9 infections
since April 3 but only found their first positive result Wednesday.
Links between mainland China and Taiwan have increased since
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou implemented a policy of rapprochement
towards Beijing in 2008.
Direct flights between China and Taiwan have since increased to
616 per week.
Copyright 2013 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH