TAIPEI: Taiwan's health authorities reported two more cases of swine flu yesterday, bringing to 16 the total number of A (H1N1) flu infections recorded in the island.

The two infections, confirmed late Wednesday, were both imported cases involving Taiwanese citizens who returned recently from New York, said Central Epidemics Command Center (CECC) spokesman Shih Wen-yi.

Shih said of the 16 cases recorded so far, all were mild infections, and only one was indigenous. Noting that most of the cases were Taiwanese students studying in the United States, Shih predicted that the number of A (H1N1) flu infections in Taiwan will continue to increase in the coming months as more students return home for the summer vacation.

One of the new cases was a 25-year-old graduate student of a university in New York City who returned to Taiwan May 29 via Hong Kong, according to the CECC.

The man came down with a fever and cough June 1 and sought medical treatment after calling the Centers for Disease Control's 1922 hotline.

The patient wore a mask throughout his journey from the United States to Taiwan and stayed home most of the time after he landed, the CECC said, adding that the patient's fever dropped after he was treated.

Family members who had had close contact with him were given preventive medication and asked to monitor their own health, the CECC said.

As the patient did not begin to experience flu symptoms until 48 hours after his arrival, the other passengers on the flight to Taiwan have not been listed as being at risk, according to the CECC.

The other case was a 24-year-old businessman based in New York City who returned to Taiwan June 1 via Hong Kong.

The patient developed muscle pains and a fever May 31 and he sought treatment June 2 after his return to Taiwan, as the symptoms persisted, the CECC said.

The CECC said the 55 passengers who shared the flight with him from Hong Kong to Taiwan are being traced.

On the New York to Hong Kong leg of the trip, the man took Cathay Pacific flight CX841 on May 31 and was assigned to seat number 32H.

The passengers who sat next to him, and those three rows in front of and behind him are urged to contact health authorities immediately, as they are considered at high risk of being infected, the CECC said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 06/05/2009 page2)