UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001554
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC; OES/IHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED, ECON, SENV, TBIO, TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN AIRPORT AI EXERCISE
REF: 05 TAIPEI 04951
1. SUMMARY. Taiwan conducted an avian influenza
(AI) simulation exercise at the main
international airport on April 6. The exercise sought to
test Taiwan's ability to detect, isolate and
treat an inbound passenger infected with AI. The event was
broadcast over live TV and Premier Su
Tseng-chang presided over the exercise. The exercise was
SIPDIS
conducted on a small scale and showed good
interagency coordination but the system has not been tested
for a large influx of people. END SUMMARY.
AI CONTROL AT THE AIRPORT
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2. Taiwan's Department of Health (DOH), its Center for
Disease Control (TCDC), together with the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and the Department
of the Interior organized an exercise at Taipei's Chiang
Kai-shek (CKS) international airport on April 6 to test
Taiwan's response to arriving airline passengers carrying the
AI virus. DOH Minister Hou Sheng-mou and TCDC Director
Steven Kuo conducted the exercise while Premier Su
Tseng-chang observed the entire process. The exercise,
SIPDIS
including Premier Su's critique, was broadcast over live TV.
In the scenario, the World Health Organization (WHO) has
declared a phase 5 alert (human to human transmission
confirmed) and Taiwan authorities react by issuing their own
AI alert (human to human transmission confirmed).
EMPHASIS ON CONTROL AT THE PORT OF ENTRY
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3. In the scenario, an hour before arrival, the airplane
captain reports that two passengers on board have a fever.
The CKS control tower instructs the captain to announce that
all arriving passengers must undergo a seven-day isolation
period. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notifies
overseas offices that travelers arriving in Taiwan from
country X must undergo quarantine in Taiwan. The Taiwan
Council of Labor Affairs also bans entry of laborers from
country X.
4. Upon arrival at CKS, all passengers undergo temperature
checks before immigration and customs. Those with a fever
are given a more detailed exam and sent to the hospital in
Taoyuan (near the airport) for observation. The airport
establishes holding stations where passengers free of
symptoms, but on the same flight with feverish passengers,
are further evaluated. All are sent to quarantine stations
for seven days of observation. One passenger tried to smuggle
birds; the birds were destroyed and he was taken to district
court to face charges. (Observers later questioned why the
smuggler was not put into quarantine.)
CRITIQUE
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5. Premier Su Tseng-chang provided a critique at the
conclusion of the exercise. He said the exercise had gone
smoothly but noted that real conditions would be much
tougher. He said other ports of entry (air and sea) also
need to be ready for AI episodes and he urged the media to
distribute information on AI. TCDC will conduct a thorough
review of the procedures, regulations, and coordination
between agencies before the next exercise takes place.
COMMENT.
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6. The exercise was conducted on a small scale so it was
relatively easy to handle the small number of people. It
remains to be seen how airport and medical authorities will
handle large numbers of patients such as what happened during
the SARS episode. Medical procedures need to be uniformly
applied, AIT noted that not everyone who was checking the
passengers was wearing mask and gloves. END COMMENT
YOUNG
YOUNG