The ongoing influenza epidemic is expected to end late this month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
A total of about 108,000 outpatient and emergency visits due to flu-like illness were reported across Taiwan from March 9 to Saturday, indicating a downward trend, but still an ongoing epidemic, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) told a regular news briefing.
Photo: Taipei Times
The most common respiratory pathogen in the community is the flu virus, with the majority being influenza A (H1N1), Lee said.
From March 9 to Saturday, 15 deaths and 45 cases with severe flu-related complications were recorded, Lee said.
Since the start of the flu epidemic on Oct. 1 last year, 1,152 severe cases and 254 deaths have been reported, Lee added.
CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said that the flu epidemic remains at a "critical point" and "still requires continued monitoring."
Expanded eligibility for government-funded antiviral drugs for influenza — covering those with symptoms who have family members, colleagues or classmates with similar symptoms — has been extended until March 31, the CDC said.
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