Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Saturday (Dec 20) that the risk of HIV transmission following last week’s deadly stabbing attack in Taipei is extremely low, after confirming that one of the injured victims is an HIV-positive patient.
The attack, carried out by suspect Chang Wen at Taipei Main Station and the Zhongshan shopping district, left four people dead and 11 injured, with five victims still hospitalised.
Health officials said hospitals alerted authorities after discovering that one injured victim is living with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) subsequently held an emergency press briefing, stressing that the patient has been on long-term, stable treatment and has an undetectable viral load.
CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun said the individual’s condition significantly reduces the risk of transmission. “He has been receiving regular oral medication, his condition is stable, and his viral load is almost undetectable. The infection risk is therefore relatively low,” Lo said.
Authorities confirmed that all injured victims have been given preventive medication as a precaution. However, as the suspect used the same knife during multiple attacks inside the Eslite Nanxi department store, health officials urged anyone who may have been injured or exposed to blood — including contact with open wounds or mucous membranes such as the eyes — to seek medical attention immediately.
Those who were present at the scene and have not yet been examined are advised to visit a hospital or contact Taiwan’s 1922 disease control hotline for assessment and possible preventive treatment.
Lo said that while blood exposure through a weapon or contact with wounds cannot be completely ruled out, timely preventive medication can reduce the risk of infection to “virtually zero”.
The CDC added that administering preventive treatment within the critical 72-hour window is highly effective. Officials cited a similar incident in Berlin in 2006 involving 33 injured victims, none of whom contracted HIV following follow-up monitoring.
Health authorities also reassured the public that HIV does not survive well outside the human body and cannot be transmitted through casual contact, even if exposed individuals later come into contact with others.
Meanwhile, one injured victim shared an account online describing being knocked down by a fleeing crowd before being slashed twice by the attacker — once striking an album he was holding, and a second time injuring his finger. He said he managed to escape with the help of a couple, only realising he was wounded after seeing blood on his body.
Medical officials and netizens alike have urged anyone injured during the incident to seek treatment promptly, emphasising that early medical care is key to minimising any potential infection risk and ensuring proper recovery.Authorities Urge Medical Checks After Taipei Attack Involving HIV-Positive Victim
