In light of a possible influenza outbreak during the Chinese New Year Holiday and to meet a possible increased demand for influenza antiviral drugs during the outbreak, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has expanded the target population for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use from December 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. In an effort to ensure patients have access to antivirals during the holiday, Taiwan CDC has contracted a total of 210 hospitals with emergency department services to provide government-funded antivirals to patients.

The target populations for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use include: (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) patients with influenza-like illness who have a fever longer than 48 hours; (8) family members/coworkers/classmates of confirmed influenza cases who display ILI; (9) persons meeting the case definition of persons under investigation for possible H5N1 infection; and (10) close contacts of “suspected H5N1 cases”, “probable H5N1 cases” and “confirmed H5N1 cases”;.

For more information about contracted hospitals that provide government-funded antivirals during the Chinese New Year Holiday, please contact local health bureaus or visit the Taiwan CDC’s webpage: http://flu.cdc.gov.tw/public/Attachment /1122115455722.xls or call ahead to ensure provision of government-funded antivirals prior to visiting the hospital. On the other hand, 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.