To prevent Avian Flu, DOH undertook three strategies, four lines of defense and issued Health Self- Management for the arriving passengers.

Three strategies are "Stop Avian Flu from Transmitting," "Developing Anti-viral Medicines," and "Researching for a Vaccine." The Four Lines of Defense are "Prevention from Offshore," "Border Quarantine," "Health Management in Community" and "Safeguard Medical System."

DOH at first ensured the sufficient stockpiles of protection equipments for the medical personnel and arranged quarantine areas for the possible massive number of patients.

Because no bird flu vaccine has been developed yet, antiviral medicine is the most effective means to fight bird flu. DOH's goal was to stockpile medicines to cover 10% of the population and develop the ability to produce antiviral drugs. Once vaccine can be mass produced, DOH will immediately ask the priority groups to take vaccine.

To prevent Avian Flu from offshore, Taiwan also participated in international cooperation exercise to stop Avian Flu as well as donated 600,000 doses of antiviral medicines to Vietnam in anticipation to control the possible pandemic from its very start.

In term of border quarantine, health examinations in all ports have been strengthened. "DOH sent volunteers to every community, urging residents to the idea of self- management such as putting on the mask when catching a cold, covering mouth and nose when coughing and don't go to the public place when having a fever," said Wang, Deputy Minister of DOH. DOH also distributes "Self- Management Form" to arriving passengers from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.

As to the risk management of food safety, DOH set up an Alert System to inform the public of the degree of food safety. "We summon specialists of food safety, risk management scholars and the representatives of consumers to form a board as it is needed," said Dr. Wang, "the updated information will be sent to the board and base on their expertise and the information, they will make decision and published the degree of food safety in red, yellow and green light. The whole process will be within 6 to 8 hours."