As the influenza activity in Taiwan has begun to peak and in response to the ongoing influenza outbreaks in Hong Kong, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) invited the Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Tzou-yien and the Chairperson and the Committee Member of the Advisory Committee on Influenza Control and Prevention Dr. Chang Shan-chwen and Dr. Shih Shin-ru to discuss the current influenza situation, the current national policies, the integration of healthcare and public health systems, the circulating influenza virus strains and their characteristics.

According to the statistics data compiled by Taiwan CDC, influenza virus is the dominant virus circulating in the community during Week 2, followed by adenovirus. The rate of specimens testing positive for influenza virus in the community during Week 2 is approximately 21.9 % (34.2% was reported during the same period last year), which is slightly up from the 14.5% reported the week before. On the other hand, the rate of specimens testing positive for adenovirus in the community during Week 2 is approximately 16.7% (6.6% was reported during the same period last year). Currently, H3N2 is the dominant strain circulating in the community (95.2% of the total specimens tested). Among the specimens tested, 62.5% match up with the corresponding strain in this year’s vaccine. The consultation rate for influenza-like illness at the emergency departments last week is 10.0% (14.0% was reported during the same period last year), which has not fluctuated from the 9.9% reported the week before, while the consultation rate for influenza-like illness at the outpatient services last week is 1.4% (1.8% was reported during the same period last year), which is slightly up from the 1.3% reported the week before. The numbers of confirmed cases and hospitalizations of influenza-related complications have continued to increase. As of February 2, 2015, a cumulative total of 31 cases of influenza-related complications, including 2 deaths, have been reported. As the rate of specimens testing positive for influenza virus in the community has been over 20%, the influenza activity has officially begun to peak.

With regard to the ongoing influenza outbreaks in Hong Kong, Taiwan CDC stated that as early as February 2014 the agency found that the currently circulating A/Switzerland/9715293 strain does not match up with the corresponding strain in the year's vaccine. Although there is an H3N2 mismatch in this year’s seasonal flu vaccine used in the vaccination campaign that started in October 2014, the vaccine may still yield certain protection against H3N2 Compared to Hong Kong, the seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates among elderly, elementary school students from grade 1 through 6, and children aged 6 moths through 6 years in Taiwan are all higher than those in Hong Kong. Beginning December 2014, the use of government-funded antiviral was expanded to include persons with high fever that persists up to 48 hours and family members, coworkers and classmates of confirmed influenza cases who display influenza-like illness (ILI). Hence, it is determined that the severity of the influenza outbreaks in Taiwan is less than that in Hong Kong.

To help ease patient load during the ongoing influenza outbreaks and the Chinese New Year Holiday, Taiwan CDC has devised a response plan for the peak of influenza season. Besides closely monitoring the development of current outbreaks, Taiwan CDC has further reinforced local healthcare capacity and increased additional 50,000 doses of antivirals to distribute to contracted hospitals and clinics in the nation. Additionally, Taiwan CDC has also requested local health bureaus to supervise hospitals to set up special influenza clinics during the Chinese New Year Holiday to ensure public access to healthcare. Some of the popular inquiries received by the Taiwan CDC’s hotline after the use of government-funded antivirals was expanded include “why a patient still needs to pay out of the pocket when meeting the requirement for government-funded drugs” and “the choice of antiviral drugs between relenza and tamilfu”. In response to the inquiries, Taiwan CDC stated that the choice of antiviral drugs varies from patient to patient and further explanation will be held to clarify the drug use policy in the future.

Individuals eligible for government-funded influenza vaccination are urged to get vaccinated to ward off infection. In addition, Taiwan CDC urges the public to pay attention to respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and advises the public to put on a surgical mask when experiencing respiratory symptoms. If someone in the household develops influenza-like illness, especially individuals at increased risks for influenza-related complications such as infants, elderly and patients with chronic diseases, please pay additional attention to the health and wellbeing of such an individual and ensure he/she receive prompt medical treatment to avoid severe influenza complications. Further, patients are urged to follow the physician’s instructions for taking the government-funded antivirals. 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).