As recent temperatures remain low and influenza activity continues to increase, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) urges the public to heighten vigilance for influenza-like symptoms and warning signs of influenza, seek prompt medical attention when experiencing flu-like symptoms and follow doctor’s instructions in completing treatment since the winter break has arrived and the Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday is fast approaching. In addition, to offer appropriate health care services for influenza patients during the holiday, a special influenza clinic will be set up at hospitals in each city and county to ensure public access to health care services in their community during the holiday.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, the influenza activity in Taiwan has been on the rise. Last week, a total of 35 new severe influenza complications, including 4 deaths, were confirmed. Since July 1, 2015, as of January 25, 2016, a total of 253 severe influenza complications, including 41 deaths, have been confirmed. The ER and outpatient consultation rates for influenza-like illness last week respectively were 10.7%, which is slightly up from that the previous week (9.8%), and 1.4%, which is slightly up from that the previous week (1.2%). Since December 2015, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza A virus is 80% and that for influenza B virus is 20%. 70% of the respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza A virus is H1N1 and 30% of those is H3N2. Over the recent weeks, some isolates tested are considered as low reactors to the currently used influenza vaccine virus. Thus far, none of the viruses identified has shown drug resistance.

In response to the ongoing influenza outbreak, since December 1, 2015, Taiwan CDC has expanded the target population for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use to include patients with influenza-like illness who have a fever longer than 48 hours and family members/coworkers/classmates of confirmed influenza cases who display ILI to prevent disease transmission and reduce risk of complications and deaths. Simultaneously, physicians are urged to heighten vigilance for patients with influenza and promptly prescribe government-funded influenza antiviral drugs to eligible patients in order to reduce the spread of influenza and the risk of complications and deaths. To meet the demand for health care services during the Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday, Taiwan CDC has requested hospitals under its supervision in each city and county to set up a special outpatient clinic during January 30 and February 14, 2016. A total of 131 hospitals will be available to receive approximately 1,512 visited patients. The actual visited patient number will vary accordingly. For more information on special outpatient clinics, please visit the local health bureau’s website.

Taiwan CDC urges the public not to underestimate the threat of influenza infection, practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask when coughing, and avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation. If signs of severe complications such as shortness of breath, breathing difficulty, cyanosis, blood-stained mucus or thickening of mucus, chest pain, change of consciousness, low blood pressure or high fever that persists for more than 48 hours develop, please put on a mask and seek immediate medical attention. When necessary, please follow the physician’s instructions for taking the government-funded antivirals and rest at home. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).