Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality Surveillance(2011)

Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality Surveillance(2011)

Many parts of the world reported the outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) epidemics starting April 2009. Soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the case definition of H1N1 influenza on April 26, 2009, Taiwan categorized H1N1 influenza as a Class 1 notifiable communicable disease on April 27 for epidemic surveillance purpose. Subsequently because the majority of H1N1 influenza cases had only mild symptoms, the WHO branded the flu outbreak as a “gentle pandemic”. Thus Taiwan removed H1N1 influenza from Class 1 notifiable communicable diseases on June 19, 2009. From then on, cases of 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.