TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control reported 181,000 hospital visits for flu-related illnesses the past week (Feb. 2-8), the highest weekly total in the past 10 flu seasons.
The CDC said the respiratory pathogens prevalent in the community are influenza viruses, with type A H1N1 being the most common, per a Tuesday press release. This matches the influenza vaccine strains administered this season, it added.
The CDC warned that factors such as activities associated with the Lantern Festival, the resumption of school after winter break, and a drop in recent temperatures will likely increase the risk of epidemic transmission. The public is reminded to pay attention to the risk of severe illness.
The CDC said Taiwan is experiencing a flu epidemic, with severe cases rising. There were 128 new severe cases and 28 deaths last week (Feb. 4-10), with most caused by H1N1 infection.
Throughout the current flu season (Oct. 1 to Feb. 10), there have been 795 severe cases (742 cases of H1N1, 33 cases of H3N2, 10 cases of unclassified A, and 10 cases of type B). In addition, there have been 160 deaths (155 cases of type A H1N1, 3 cases of type A H3N2, and 2 cases of type B).
As for the international situation, flu cases are increasing in the Northern Hemisphere, along with Singapore and China. However, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan are experiencing a downward trend.
The US is in the midst of a severe epidemic situation with an accumulated 24 million cases and 310,000 hospitalizations this flu season, with 13,000 deaths. The main prevalent type in Asia is type A H1N1, while types A H1N1 and B are in Europe, and H1N1 and H3N2 are in the US.
According to CDC data, as of Feb. 10, 6.573 million doses of the publicly funded flu vaccine have been administered (vaccine utilization rate 99.8%), with 13,000 doses remaining. Considering Taiwan is still at the peak of flu season, the Cabinet instructed the CDC to purchase 100,000 more vaccines to protect vulnerable groups.
The CDC reminds citizens that flu symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, cough, and muscle aches. People who experience dangerous signs such as difficulty breathing, bloody or thick sputum, chest pain, low blood pressure, or high fever lasting for 72 hours should seek medical attention.
The CDC has expanded the conditions for the use of publicly funded influenza antiviral drugs to Feb. 28. Anyone who is determined by a physician to meet the conditions can be prescribed antiviral drugs without rapid influenza screening.
