On August 10, 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the H1N1 pandemic has entered the post-pandemic period.WHO stressed that this does not mean the H1N1 virus has disappeared and the virus will continue to circulate like the seasonal influenza virus for years to come, resulting in outbreaks of different sizes.Hence, WHO urged continued vigilance against the H1N1 virus.

According to the surveillance data compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), the number of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) during the past week is 60,283. Approximately, the number of people infected with influenza is 12, 660.Among them, about 2,912 people were infected with the H1N1 virus.According to the community virus surveillance system, 21% of the specimens were tested positive for influenza virus.Among those specimens, 49% were typed as seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus, 28% were typed as influenza B virus and 23% were typed as pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.In addition, among the 15 confirmed clusters of influenza that occurred during the past 3 weeks, 11 were caused by seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus and 3 were caused by pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.The clusters occurred primarily in populous institutions.Based on the surveillance data, current influenza activity in the community remains low to moderate and seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus is the predominant circulating virus.

Usually, in the summer months, cases of influenza infection occur sporadically. However, this summer, an increase in the number of influenza cases has been noted.Taiwan CDC reminds the public to seek immediate medical attention when they develop symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle pain.Taiwan CDC advises clinicians to consider the possibility of influenza infection when diagnosing patients with acute respiratory tract diseases such as pneumonia, prescribe antiviral drugs for people with suspected influenza without asking patients to undergo rapid diagnostic tests, and promptly prescribe antiviral drugs for people with severe or complicated influenza illness, collect specimens from the patients for laboratory testing and report the cases to the local health bureau immediately.

Although the intensity of current H1N1 outbreaks is unlike that of last year’s pandemic, the H1N1 virus continues to pose a significant threat to young, healthy groups.At present, 523 clinics and hospitals in Taiwan continue to offer free H1N1 vaccination. Taiwan CDC urges people who have not been vaccinated against the H1N1 virus to get vaccinated.For more information on influenza, pleas visit the Taiwan CDC’s website : http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Case Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC.