2025-05-19Due to the recent chilly weather, the number of influenza cases is rising. As winter vacation has started, and the Lunar New Year is coming up, those with symptoms of influenza or influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are advised to go immediately for a clinical checkup and, if found infected, take required medication and rest. In addition, during the Lunar New Year holidays, proper medical services will be provided for flu-affected patients, and special clinic service for ILI diagnosis will also be available in every county. During the vacation, people with ILI symptoms can consult a neighboring medical institution.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s monitoring and statistical data, the number of cases in Taiwan’s flu epidemic is increasing. Last week alone, 35 confirmed cases of severe complicated influenza, as well as four flu-associated deaths, were reported. From July 1, 2015, when this wave of influenza commenced, to January 25 of this year, the accumulated number of confirmed cases of severe complicated influenza is 253, which has resulted in 41 deaths. The rates of emergency room and outpatient visits for ILI last week increased to 10.7% and 1.4%, respectively, higher than the week before (9.8% and 1.2%). Community-based flu virus monitoring data indicate that among the positive test results of influenza collected since last December, 80% were identified as type-A virus, with the other 20% being type-B. Among the type-A cases, H1N1 comprised 70%, while the other 30% were H3N2. Some virus strains that did not match the vaccines were found last week, but fortunately no drug resistance has been discovered so far.
