Accordingto the statistics compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TaiwanCDC), influenza activity in Taiwan has declined and the ER consultation rate for influenza-like illness last week slightly decreased from that the week before. As the weather continues to fluctuate and a cold front might sweep through Taiwan, the public is advised to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms develop and follow the doctor’s instructions intaking the influenza antiviral drugs.

　　
Although the peak of influenza activity has passed, due to the course of the disease, the number of severe influenza cases reported last week (3/8-3/13) was 240. 80.6% of the newly reported severe cases are caused by H1N1, while 11.6% of the severe cases are caused by influenza B viruses. 42 deaths were found to be associated with influenza infection (36 deaths from influenza A (H1N1), 2 from influenza A (untyped), and 4 from influenza B).  Their dates of death were between January 7 and March 4, 2016 and they were aged between 10 and 93. They either had history of chronic conditions or had not received the seasonal influenza vaccine. The average number of days between disease onset and death is 9. The last death occurred on March 4, 2016. Since the beginning of this influenza season on July 1, 2015, as of March 13, 2016, a total of 1,663 severe influenza cases (96% were unvaccinated against influenza), including 163 deaths (95% wereunvaccinated against influenza), have been confirmed. Both the numbers ofpatients with influenza-like illness and severe cases reported in the communityhave decreased. Currently, about half of the influenza patients are infected with influenza A viruses and the other half are infected with influenza B viruses. As of now, none of the viruses identified has shown drug resistance.

Since December 1, 2015, Taiwan CDC has expanded 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. BeginningMarch 11, 2016, Taiwan CDC has again expanded the target population for the antiviral drug to include patients with influenza-like illness who experience fever. Simultaneously, physicians are urged to heighten vigilance for patients with influenza and promptly prescribe government-funded influenza antiviral drugs to eligible patients without the use of a rapid influenza diagnostic test in order to ensure prompt treatment, prevent further transmission of the disease, and reduce the occurrence of severe cases and deaths.

Taiwan CDC urges the publicnot 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 48hours 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).