TAIPEI: Taiwan confirmed two more cases of imported H1N1 flu infection yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 21, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CMMC) announced.

The 20th case was that of a 27-year-old Taiwanese woman who traveled to New York on a backpacking tour with her husband between May 11 and June 6.

The woman left New York City by plane on June 5 and stopped over briefly in Tokyo, before arriving at Taoyuan International Airport on June 6.

A scan at the airport revealed she had a body temperature of 38.4 degree Celsius. She was treated in the isolation ward of Taoyuan Hospital.

The patient suffered from flu symptoms as early as June 3. Instead of seeing a doctor however, she took some medicine she had bought from a pharmacy. Since the woman reported her condition to the ground crew before boarding the plane and she had worn a surgical mask throughout the flight, it is believed there was little chance she infected anybody on the flight. But her husband was given anti-flu medicine as a precautionary measure.

The other new case involved a 21-year-old Taiwanese student who has been studying in the US. She had been in the US since January and had traveled to New York City and Los Angeles before returning to Taiwan for the summer.

Her father and uncle met her at the Taoyuan International Airport on June 3 evening and drove her home.

Three days later, she saw a doctor at a clinic after feeling itchiness in her throat and developing a cough.

Still not feeling well on the following day, she went to the hospital and was listed as a suspected case. Yesterday health authorities announced she had tested positive for the virus.

The patient told CMMC that she did not leave her home after returning to Taiwan. The CMMC believed she picked up the virus in the US. Her five family members who have had close contact with her have been prescribed preventive medication.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 06/09/2009 page2)