Now is the peak of the influenza season. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is urging flu sufferers to stay at home and get rest in order to speed up their recovery and avoid infecting others with the virus.
This year's flu season has hit young people and schools especially hard, with 13 cases of serious complications caused by flu, all of which were children.
One child died of flu complications.
Possible complications from influenza include encephalitis and pneumonia.
"The jury is still out on whether this season will turn out to be more severe than previous seasons," CDC Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi (
"But we do know that there have been more reported cases of mass-infection at schools," Shih said.
SCHOOLS
According to CDC figures, the infection rate at schools has exceeded the warning level of 0.479 percent for more than eight weeks in a row.
Shih said that the flu season usually stretches from Christmas to the Lunar New Year.
"It's not too late to get a flu shot," Shih said.
"We have 130,000 free doses still available for those who qualify. Stock in the out-of-pocket market is also plentiful," Shih said.
Those under the age of three and above the age of 50 are eligible for free flu shots on a first come, first serve basis.
HOLIDAY SEASON
"Nobody really knows why the influenza season peaks between Christmas and the Lunar New Year," Shih said.
"It has been theorized that it has something to do with shifting cold fronts or the migration of birds," Shih said.
Localized outbreaks of rotavirus infections have also dogged the nation over the past few weeks.
"Rotavirus is a threat wherever people are concentrated in an enclosed space, such as in nursing homes," Shih said.
"It is very contagious, so it is necessary to wash one's hands thoroughly to prevent infection," Shih said.
When asked about the possibility of a bird flu outbreak, Shih said that Taiwan had more than 100,000 doses of tamiflu stockpiled.
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