The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has expanded the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use for patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) whose immunity is compromised beginning September 15, 2011, and drafted relevant guidance and recommendations on the use of influenza antiviral agents for immuno-compromised patients with ILI to provide a reference for clinicians.In response to a possible increased demand for influenza antiviral drugs due to an influenza epidemic and based on the recommendations of the influenza experts, Taiwan CDC has decided to expand the target population for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use to include patients with ILI who have a fever longer than 48 hours and family members/coworkers/classmates of confirmed influenza cases who display ILI during the peak of the annual influenza season from December to March.Further, the use for influenza antiviral drugs can be adjusted according to the epidemic situation during the peak of influenza season.

According to Taiwan CDC, the target individuals, including: (1) persons meeting the case definition of persons with influenza-related complications; (2) pregnant women who need prompt treatment with antiviral drugs; (3) persons with ILI and signs of severe complications; (4) persons with ILI and major illness and injury or cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic or renal disease; (5) persons who are morbidly obese (i.e., BMI ≥35); (6) ILI cluster cases confirmed by the commander and the vice commander of the Communicable Disease Control Medical Network; (7) persons meeting the case definition of persons under investigation for possible H5N1 infection; and (8) close contacts of “suspected H5N1 cases”, “probable H5N1 cases” and “confirmed H5N1 cases”, can have access to the government-funded influenza antiviral drugs when seeking medical attention at contracted hospitals.Additionally, besides the aforementioned target populations, Taiwan CDC has also included 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 for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use during the peak of the annual influenza season between December and March.

Taiwan CDC stresses that influenza outbreaks of varying size occur all around the world every year.People at high risk for developing influenza-related complications and even deaths include elderly, children and patients with chronic diseases.It has been clinically proven that the influenza antiviral drug treatment is most effective when administered within 48 hours of the onset of signs and symptoms. To timely provide the influenza antiviral drugs to target individuals and prevent the occurrence of complications and death, local health bureaus have been actively designating locations to dispatch government-funded antiviral drugs. As of now, a total of 1,174 locations dispatch the drug in the nation.In addition, the current national influenza antiviral drug stockpile covers up to 25% of the population in order to effectively control an outbreak and minimize the occurrence of influenza-related complications and deaths. Immuno-compromised patients with ILI is included for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use and relevant guidance and recommendations on the use of influenza antiviral agents for immuno-compromised patients with ILI are drafted based on the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and the national committee on influenza prevention.

For more information on influenza antiviral drug use, timing of influenza antiviral treatment, contracted hospitals and influenza prevention, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922.