Virology & Mycology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0517
+44 1223 790975
ISSN: 2161-0517
+44 1223 790975
Yu-Ju Lin, Sung-Yin Chen, Yi-Chien Chih, Shu-Mei Chou and Chang-Hsun Chen
Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Virol Mycol
Background: The threat of a human influenza pandemic has prompted, thus, urgent development of national preparedness plans in Taiwan since 2003. We reviewed these plans to assess Taiwan��?s preparedness for pandemic influenza. Methods: The ��?National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan��? and the ��?Strategic Plan��? of Taiwan, published in 2015 and 2011 respectively, were evaluated by using a checklist containing five criteria of preparation, surveillance, prevention and containment, case investigation and treatment, and risk communication (there are 68 indicators in total). This checklist was developed using the latest WHO guidelines, and in consultation with influenza experts of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Office. Results: The average score for aggregate completeness is 72.5%. For the five included criteria, the on average scores are 83.3% for preparation, 83.3% for surveillance, 57.4% prevention and containment, 71.4% case investigation and treatment, and 58.3% risk communication. Among the individual indicators, 31 (45.6%) indicators scored 3, 20 (29.4%) indicators scored 2, 15 (22.1%) indicators scored 1, and 2 (2.9%) indicators scored 0. Both of the 2 indicators scored 0 due to the lack of mention triage system and strategy for storage and disposal of corpses. Conclusion: Taiwan��?s preparedness plans are satisfactory, the plan scores particularly well on surveillance system and mobilization of resources such as health care facilities, personal protective equipment, antivirals, and vaccines. Moreover, gaps in preparedness planning remain; especially those operational guidelines for the implementation of related prevention and containment measures should be detailed or addressed in the operational documents.
Recent Publications:
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2. Malik MR, Haq ZU, Saeed Q, Riley R and Khan WM (2017) Distressed setting and profound challenges: Pandemic influenza preparedness plans in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Journal of infection and public health.
3. Mounier-Jack S and Coker RJ (2006) How prepared is Europe for pandemic influenza? Analysis of national plans. Lancet 367: 1405-1411.
4. World Health Organization (2005) WHO global influenza preparedness plan. Online at: http://apps.who.int/iris/ handle/10665/68998?locale-attribute=en&
5. World Health Organization (2018) A checklist for pandemic influenza risk and impact management: building capacity for pandemic response. Online at: http://www.who.int/influenza/preparedness/pandemic/influenza_risk_management_ checklist_2018/en/.
Yu-Ju Lin is the Section Chief of the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan (TCDC). She currently leads TCDC’s influenza pandemic preparedness and response activities, and her office is responsible for national and local readiness, the regulation of emergency operations, and managing the nation’s stockpile of related emergency countermeasures. She has more than 15 years of continuous service as a TCDC Officer; during her long career, she has taken part in a wide range of infectious disease outbreak investigations and responses, including SARS outbreak of 2003 in Taiwan, strategic development for the control of seasonal influenza/novel influenza A virus infections.
E-mail: angina@cdc.gov.tw