TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control said outpatient visits for influenza-like illness reached 115,930 last week, up 13.1% from the previous week and above the epidemic threshold.

CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said lab surveillance shows influenza A (H1N1) predominating and that several more weeks of observation are needed before projecting the peak.

While flu cases are rising, COVID-19 visits fell to 2,184 for the week, down 16.5% from the prior week. The dominant domestic variant is NB.1.8.1; globally, cases are increasing in Japan, South Korea, the US, and Canada, with XFG most prevalent worldwide and NB.1.8.1 common in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

The CDC said vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe disease. This year’s publicly funded flu program begins Oct. 1 in two phases, with 6.5 million doses procured and up to 200,000 more to be added if needed. Eligibility and scheduling mirror last year.

From Oct. 1, free flu shots are available to 11 groups: adults 65 and older; Indigenous people 55 and older; residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; children 6 months and older; people with underlying medical conditions (including high-risk chronic illnesses, BMI ≥30, and rare diseases or serious injuries); pregnant women; parents of infants under 6 months; medical and epidemic-prevention personnel; students from elementary school through the third year of high school/vocational/technical college; kindergarten and home care workers; and livestock and animal health professionals. From Nov. 1, eligibility expands to adults 50–64 without high-risk chronic conditions.

COVID-19 vaccines will also roll out in phases from Oct. 1. The CDC said its strategy has shifted from universal to risk-based coverage. Beginning Oct. 1, the general public aged 6–49 is no longer eligible for publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination.

The CDC urged schools, kindergartens, cram schools, and care centers to tighten precautions and keep sick individuals at home. The public should maintain hand hygiene and cough etiquette, wear masks as needed, and seek prompt care for fever or cough. Those with warning signs should see a doctor to assess eligibility for publicly funded influenza antivirals.