title: A new reportable disease is born: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control's response to emerging Zika virus infection.
abstract: Zika virus infection, usually a mild disease transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitos, has been reported to be possibly associated with microcephaly and neurologic complications. Taiwan's first imported case of Zika virus infection was found through fever screening at airport entry in January 2016. No virus was isolated from patient's blood taken during acute illness; however, PCR products showed that the virus was of Asian lineage closely related to virus from Cambodia. To prevent Zika virus from spreading in Taiwan, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control has strengthened efforts in quarantine and surveillance, increased Zika virus infection diagnostic capacity, implemented healthcare system preparedness plans, and enhanced vector control program through community mobilization and education. Besides the first imported case, no additional cases of Zika virus infection have been identified. Furthermore, no significant increase in the number of microcephaly or Guillain- Barré Syndrome has been observed in Taiwan. To date, there have been no autochthonous transmissions of Zika virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Infectious Diseases, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Angela Song-En
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Yun
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Infectious Diseases, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: inf@cdc.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Chin-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013624:Taiwan; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control