Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/23
By: Lung Pei-ning and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan, on heightened alert for a possible Zika outbreak, has ramped up its quarantine protocols in order to shield the country from the mosquito-borne virus at its borders, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

The current quarantine work is focusing on off-shore and border control, said CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩).

Six major quarantine measures have been implemented, including clearing mosquitoes from airplanes, healthcare and hygiene education for arriving and departing passengers, fever screening of arriving passengers, traveler-self reporting, blood tests at ports, and hospital treatments, Chou said.

According to the CDC, there were 12 Taiwanese tour groups traveling to central and southern American countries in February. Among the tour groups, which consist of a total of 254 people, eight groups have returned to Taiwan, it said.     [FULL  STORY]