The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday rebutted media reports that the influenza situation was more severe than the SARS outbreak in 2003, saying there was no point in comparing the two outbreaks, as the diseases were entirely different.
This flu season has taken its toll on the nation, with 84 deaths reported to have been the result of flu-like symptoms since July last year.
The CDC said its statistics showed that those who did not receive the influenza vaccination were 8.8 times more likely to develop severe cases of influenza when infected than those who had received inoculations.
Those who were not vaccinated were also 4.3 times more likely to die from severe influenza than those who had been vaccinated, the CDC said.
Although seasonal influenza has been wreaking havoc on the country, the CDC said it should not be compared to the SARS virus, because SARS had a fatality rate of 11 percent, while influenza so far has had a fatality rate of less than 0.5 percent.
“Seasonal influenza can be prevented [with vaccinations] and is easier to treat, while treatment for SARS is very different and patients must be quarantined,” CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said.
He said there had been 1,612 reported cases of severe influenza, with conditions peaking around the Lunar New Year holiday.
Health officials said the number of people infected with the flu viruses would remain high until the end of next month.
Vaccine maker Addimune Corp yesterday also announced it was donating 22,000 doses of flu vaccine for adults, to be distributed to across the country.
More than 30,000 doses of publicly funded vaccinations for adults and 100,000 doses for children remain in stock. The CDC urged those who plan to get vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
The CDC said that according to the WHO, the next flu season will run from this year through next year and is expected to be dominated by the A(H1N1) virus and other strains similar to this season’s strains.
Although people who have already been infected develop immunity within two to three weeks, they are nevertheless advised to rest and drink plenty of water to help rebuild their immunity system, Chou said.
The CDC added that it would extend to the end of next month an offer of publicly funded Tamiflu, a oral treatment for the flu, to patients who experience high fever for two consecutive days and those who live with such a patient and have themselves developed flu-like symptoms.
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