On March 1, 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) convened the Influenza Control and Prevention Advisory Meeting to discuss whether to establish class suspension guidelines in response to influenza outbreaks in schools. As the peak influenza season has passed, influenza viruses have not shown changes and mutations, and the seasonal influenza vaccine remains effective, the participating experts all agreed that there is no need to formulate the national guidelines for class suspension arrangements. Nonetheless, all levels of schools are urged to advise sick students to stay at home when sick, raise vaccination awareness, and implement relevant health education.

Most of the recently reported patients with influenza-related complications are adults aged 50 and above and not schoolchildren. In light of the fact that the international community has not established any class suspension guidelines for influenza outbreaks and some studies have shown that students who are suspended from classes, their frequency of contact in the community and family is thus increased, which can potentially lead to a 27% increase in influenza incidence. Moreover, it takes at least 8 weeks of class suspension to see effective results. Therefore, the participating experts decided that there is no need to formulate national class suspension standards

The meeting was presided over by the convener of the Influenza Control and Prevention Division under the Ministry of Health and Welfare Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee, Dean Chang San-cheng (張上淳). The11 participating experts and representatives from the Ministry of Education all agreed that this year’s influenza outbreaks are drastically different from the2009 H1N1 pandemic mostly because H1N1 was a novel influenza virus, there was no vaccine available, and most people were not immune to the virus. On the other hand, this year, about 70% of the elementary school students have received the seasonal influenza vaccine and they do not constitute the majority of the severe cases reported. The participating experts suggested Taiwan CDC to reinforce vaccination among at-risk individuals and promote cough etiquette and hand hygiene in schools in order to effectively prevent influenza transmission.

According to the statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC, since the number of severe influenza complications reached its peak on February 22, it has declined to below 100 cases. The number of patients seeking care for influenza-like illness at medical centers in a single day has also decreased to below 100. In other words, influenza activity has significantly declined. Right now, we are still in the influenza season. Hence, it is expected to see more severe cases and deaths. The public is urged to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms develop.

Since the beginning of this influenza season on July 1, 2015, as of March1, 2016, a total of 1,109 severe influenza complications, including 84 deaths, have been confirmed. Over 96% of patients with influenza-related complications did not receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. This year’s seasonal influenza vaccine offers approximately 70-90% protection against clinical influenza and severe cases. Taiwan CDC urges at-risk individuals, including elderly and children, to get vaccinated. The public is advised to practice hand hygiene and stay at home while sick to ward off influenza infection. 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 (or0800-001922).