The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) points out that as influenza activity in Taiwan continues to increase and vaccination against influenza does not merely only offer protection against the disease to a certain extent, but also may make symptoms milder if the vaccinee does get sick. Nonetheless, the influenza vaccine does not include all the circulating virus strains and different individuals develop varying immunity after vaccination. Therefore, some vaccinees may still become infected with influenza. If influenza-like symptoms or signs pertaining to influenza develop, please seek timely medical attention and follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment and rest. At the same time, Taiwan CDC urges physicians to heighten vigilance for patients with influenza and promptly prescribe government-funded influenza antiviral drugs to eligible patients in order to reduce the risk of complications.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, the influenza activity in Taiwan has been on the rise. Last week, a total of 22 new severe influenza complications, including 3 deaths, were confirmed. Since July 1, 2015, as of January 18, 2016, a total of 218 severe influenza complications, including 37 deaths, have been confirmed. The ER and outpatient consultation rates for influenza-like illness last week respectively were 9.8%, which is about the same as that the previous week, and 1.2%, which is slightly up from that the previous week. During Week 52 in 2015, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus was 25.6%. H1N1 is currently the dominant strain circulating in the community. In addition, some H1N1 isolates tested are considered as low reactors to the currently used influenza vaccine virus. Thus far, none of the viruses identified has shown drug resistance.

Taiwan CDC will extend the period for the use of government-funded antivirals to March 31, 2015 and has also decided to expand the target population for the government-funded influenza antiviral drug use to include 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 to prevent disease transmission and reduce risk of complications and deaths.

Taiwan CDC urges the public not to underestimate the threat of influenza infection, practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask when coughing, and avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation. If signs of severe complications such as shortness of breath, breathing difficulty, cyanosis, blood-stained mucus or thickening of mucus, chest pain, change of consciousness, low blood pressure or high fever that persists for more than 48 hours develop, please put on a mask and seek immediate medical attention. When necessary, please follow the physician’s instructions for taking the government-funded antivirals and rest at home. 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).