Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality Surveillance(2010)

Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality Surveillance(2010)

Starting in April 2009, many parts of the world reported the outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1). Soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the case definition of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) on April 26, 2009, Taiwan categorized it as a Class 1 notifiable communicable disease on April 27 for epidemic surveillance purpose. Subsequently because the majority of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) cases had only mild symptoms, the WHO branded the flu outbreak as a “mild pandemic.” Thus Taiwan removed it from Class 1 notifiable communicable diseases on June 19. From then on, cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) with severe complications are handled as a Class 4 notifiable communicable disease in terms of reporting deadline, reporting and relevant control measures.