As enteroviruses continue to pose a threat to human health, the United States and Taiwan co-hosted an International Workshop on Laboratory Diagnosis for Enterovirus on April 23, 2018 in Taipei, wishing to share the molecular method for detecting enterovirus infection and demonstrate the use of EV-71 Rapid Test Kit, to help bolster the global capacity to tackle the viruses.

Over 200 experts and government officials from 23 countries participated in this workshop, including Dr. Leonard Peruski from U.S. CDC headquarters in Atlanta, and Dr. John MacArthur, the U.S. CDC country director in Thailand.

Mr. Kin W. Moy, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Dr. Chih-Chung Wu, Deputy Foreign Minister, and Dr. Shih-Chung Chen, Health Minister of ROC (Taiwan) were also invited to give remarks at the opening ceremony of the workshop.

In his remark, Dr. Shih-Chung Chen emphasized that infectious diseases do not respect boundaries, as an active member of the international community, “Taiwan will continue to strengthen our bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other countries to improve the regional core capacities for tackling emerging infectious diseases.”

Mr. Kin W. Moy said that he strongly believed “the kind of information-sharing and network-building is essential for global public health security.” in his remark. He also stressed that the U.S. “considers Taiwan to be a vital partner, a democratic success story, and a force for good in the world…. The United States continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful and substantive contributions to the international community. In particular, we have consistently supported Taiwan’s participation as an observer at the annual World Health Assembly and in technical meetings.”

The workshop concluded on April 26.