TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control Tuesday said that influenza-like illnesses last week hit a 10-year high.
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said that from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11, there were 139,000 visits to outpatient clinics and emergency rooms for the flu, per CNA.
Kuo said emergency visits accounted for 12.7% of cases, indicating an upward trend and entering the epidemic phase. Over the past month, laboratory data shows most respiratory pathogens were flu viruses, with influenza type A (H1N1) the predominant strain.
Kuo said from Jan. 7 to Jan. 13. there were 10 deaths and 49 severe cases. This flu season has recorded 461 severe cases with complications and 101 deaths, the second-highest figures in 10 years, surpassed only by the 2019–2020 flu season.
Lin advised that while the high-risk group with H1N1 is the elderly, adults of other ages can also experience rapid deterioration.
CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-huai (曾淑慧) said the flu outbreak should peak around Lunar New Year, when weekly outpatient visits may reach 150,000 cases. Tseng added influenza vaccines are available to everyone aged six months and older and urged the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible.