Symptom Surveillance System(2011)

Symptom Surveillance System(2011)

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in March of 2003 that nearly became a global pandemic also hit Taiwan, causing public panic and dealing our economy with an unprecedented blow. In December the same year, avian influenza also broke out in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Presently Taiwan is the only country in Asia that has not become an avian flu stricken area. In Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, there have been fatality cases of humans infected with H5N1 virus, which attracted worldwide attention and concerns and caused considerable panic worldwide. To prevent the invasion of viruses, a symptom surveillance system has been established for early detection of communicable diseases so prompt control measures can be implemented. In 2006, the active surveillance system was consolidated into the symptom surveillance system to boost the capacity for prevention and control of imported diseases and improve the convenience and accessibility of the system so as to achieve the goals of early detection and early prevention. Currently the symptom surveillance system monitors: H5N1 influenza cases under investigation, influenza-like illness, fever of unknown origin, diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, patients with coughing lasting for more than three weeks and enterovirus.