CECC spokesman Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said the first case, a 52-year-old Australian doctor, had a fever of 38.3℃ when entering Taiwan. The preliminary test last night turned out positive and the final result confirmed that he was the first case in Taiwan contracting the H1N1 flu virus.

The Australian male boarded a Cathay Pacific Airline CX 831 plane to Hong Kong from New York on May 17 in seat 41H, and came to Taiwan on May 18 via CX468 flight in seat 62K. Shih especially called on passengers sitting within three rows to contact the CECC as soon as possible.

The patient was transferred to quarantine ward in Taoyuan General Hospital and given Tamiflu for treatment, said the Hospital.

Shih said the passengers sharing the same flight should not panic, asking them to stay home as precaution for seven days, wear face mask when going out, and avoid close contact with others.

Fortunately, the case was detected during arrival at the Taiwan Taoyuan Airport and sent to hospital immediately thanks to tight airport inspection, said Shih. The case was gradually recovering in the hospital, he said.

Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan (葉金川), who was currently in Geneva for World Health Assembly, said he would attempt to get an earlier flight back to Taiwan and called on Taiwanese not to worry.

As the fatality rate of the new H1N1 flu is not high, Yeh said the public should not panic. The passengers within three rows of the case should take self-care to prevent spread of the virus, and members of the public should avoid contagion by frequent hand-washing and wearing mask when sick or going to hospital, added Yeh.