Premier Su Tseng-chang has ordered health authorities to elevate border checks in response to an outbreak of pneumonia in China. At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Su called for tighter fever inspections for people arriving at the nation’s borders.
It’s not clear what caused the outbreak and which types of pneumonia are in question.
Su’s comments came after China on Tuesday confirmed 27 cases of pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan. Su says that with a large number of people traveling between Taiwan and China, the government is prepared to set up a contingency center, if necessary.
Meanwhile, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Chou Chih-hao says the CDC has yet to hear anything from China since Tuesday. Chou says the CDC has already contacted the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries to gather more information.
There are 12 direct flights between Taiwan and Wuhan every week. So far, Chou says that only one child has been placed under observation after developing fever-like symptoms.