The start of the new school year has brought a rise in A(H1N1) cluster infections, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.
The latest statistics from the center show that 317 classes in 229 elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools were suspended following the Ministry of Education’s “325” policy of suspending a class for up to five days if more than two students in the class are diagnosed with flu within three days of each other.
The center said another 13 people with A(H1N1) were hospitalized yesterday, bringing the total number of hospitalized cases in the country to 174. Some 48 patients remain in hospitals while 115 have been discharged. Taiwan has reported 11 deaths from the disease so far.
Of the 13 new patients, six were women and seven were men, who range in age from eight to 60 years, the center said. Most were from northern Taiwan.
The center said the number of people with A(H1N1) symptoms seeking medical attention at local hospitals has markedly increased in the past week. It attributed the increase to the cooler weather as well as students returning to school.
In related news, the Taipei City Government confirmed yesterday that an Israeli Deaflympics basketball player has A(H1N1) flu, making him the first athlete at the Games to confirmed to have developed the disease.
He tested positive for A-type flu on Wednesday and was confirmed to have A(H1N1) flu upon further examination.
Taipei City Department of Health Commissioner Allen Chiu (邱文祥) said the Israeli’s symptoms were not severe. He has been banned from the Games and put into isolation at his hotel.
A Japanese soccer team member who was initially believed to have swine flu only contracted the H3 strain. He was also resting at hotel and remains banned from the Games, Chiu said.
“No other athletes from the two teams have shown flu symptoms, and both athletes should get well soon. There’s no need to be panic about the flu,” he said.
Chiu said the city government would remain in close contact with officials in Taipei County, Taoyuan County and Hsinchu City because some of the Games events are being held in those areas.
All Games venues and hotels housing athletes have been equipped with anti-bacterial hand gels, and team members of the infected athletes would be encouraged to wear masks, Chiu said.
Each team doctor was authorized to determine whether or not infected athletes should be banned from the Games, he said, adding that the department would still make suggestions and negotiate with team doctors on the issue.
The Deaflympic’s Organizing Committee also sent out letters to all teams in the Games to promote preventive measures against the flu, he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JIMMY CHUANG
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