As the temperature drops and the supply of government-funded influenza vaccines will soon be depleted, the public is advised to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Patients eligible for government-funded influenza antiviral drug are urged to seek prompt medical attention in order to ensure their own health and the health of their family. Additionally, as H7N9 and H9N2 influenza infections have recently been confirmed in China, travelers planning to visit affected areas are urged to take precautions, including avoid direct contact with poultry and visiting live poultry markets to ward off infection.

As of December 14, a cumulative total of approximately 135,319 doses of the allotted seasonal influenza vaccines, including 121,112 0.5mL doses of influenza vaccine and 14,207 0.25mL doses of influenza vaccine, remain available. Although influenza activity has remained at the baseline level, it is overall on an upward trend. Last week, 3 cases of severe influenza complications and one death associated with influenza infection have been confirmed. Since the beginning of this influenza season on July 1, 2015, as of December 14, a cumulative total of 156 severe influenza complications, including 27 deaths, have been confirmed. The outpatient and ER consultation rates for influenza-like illness last week respectively are 1.1% and 8.7%, which are about the same as that during the week before last week. During the same period last year, the outpatient and ER consultation rates for influenza-like illness respectively are 1.0% and 8.0%.

Further, officials from the China Health and Family Planning Commission has confirmed one new H7N9 influenza infection in a 60-year-old peasant who resides in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province and had a history of live poultry exposure. The case is currently in critical condition. Since this fall, a cumulative total of 6 cases of H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed in China, including 5 in Zhejiang Province and 1 in Guangdong Province. All of them are peasants and poultry workers who age above 50 years old and had a history of live poultry exposure. Since March 31, 2013, a cumulative total of 683 H7N9 influenza infections, including 275 deaths, announced by WHO on November 13, 2015 have been confirmed in China (663), Hong Kong (13), Taiwan (4), Canada (2), and Malaysia (1).

On the other hand, officials from the China Health and Family Planning Commission had also confirmed 4 new H9N2 influenza infections, including 3 females and 1 male. They age between 1 and 15. Their onset dates range between April and October this year. All of them experienced mild symptoms. One of them visited the market with their family, while the rest had no or a unconfirmed history of live poultry exposure. Since 2013, a cumulative total of 6 H9N2 influenza infections have been confirmed in China, including 4 cases in Hunan Province, 1 case in Anhui Province and 1 case in Hong Kong (imported from Guangdong Province). Currently, Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for avian influenza to Zhejiang Province, Guangdong Province, Anhui Province and Hunan Province, and a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for avian influenza to the other provinces and cities in China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau.。

Taiwan CDC urges the public not to underestimate the threat of influenza infection and practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask when coughing. In addition, travelers visiting China are advised to take preventive measures such as avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings/dead bodies, and consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs. If influenza-like illness symptoms develop upon arriving in Taiwan, please voluntarily notify the airline crew and the quarantine officer at the quarantine station in the airport. If symptoms such as fever and cough develop after returning to Taiwan, please put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention. Moreover, please inform the physician of the recent travel and exposure history to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. 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).