1,100 tuberculosis patients banned from flying
August 29, 2007 TAIPEI, CNA
CHINA POST
Health authorities said they had notified some 1,100 tuberculosis patients in Taiwan that they are prohibited from traveling abroad by air.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed that those placed under air travel restrictions comprise 188 multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis patients and over 900 other active infectious TB patients.
According to Chou Chih-hao, deputy director of the center, there are 399 multi drug-resistant TB patients in Taiwan, of whom 188 have not yet tested negative for the disease. He said that the more than 1,100 TB patients on the restricted list will not be allowed to leave Taiwan by air unless they can present documentary proof issued by their doctors within the past week declaring that they are no longer infectious.
According to center officials, the center originally planned to publicize related measures early next year to go with a ban on air travel for infectious TB patients, but decided to implement the measures from Sept. 1.
They said the measures need to be in place urgently after a southern Taiwan couple -- both multi drug-resistant TB patients -- traveled to China July 21, causing a public health alarm and prompting health officials on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to track them down.