According to the statistics compiled bythe Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), the number of severe influenza cases reported has begun to gradually decrease after reaching its peak on February 22, 2016, indicating the peak of influenza activity is over.Taiwan CDC will continue to respond aggressively to the ongoing outbreaks andhas planned to revise the vaccination policy to further improve the vaccination coverage rate.

Although the peak of influenza activity has passed, due to the course of the disease, the number of severe influenza cases reported last week was 314, including 37 new deaths. Since the beginning of this influenza season on July 1, 2015, as of March 8, 2016, a total of 1,423 severe influenza cases, including 121 deaths, have been confirmed. While H1N1is currently the dominant strain circulating in the community, there has beenan increase in the number of respiratory specimens tested positive for influenzavirus type B. The increase could potentially slow the decrease in the number ofmild cases reported, but will have a limited effect on the number of severe cases and deaths.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has estimated that seasonal flu-associated deaths in theUnited States range between 3,000 and 49,000 people each year. Adopting thesame estimation method, Taiwan CDC has estimated that seasonal flu-associated deaths in Taiwan range between 1,000 and 2,200 people each year. On the otherhand, Taiwan CDC has estimated that as of the end of March, this year’s number of severe influenza cases ranges between 1,800 and 1,900 and this year’s number of deaths from severe influenza illness ranges between 230 and 290.                                                                                                                            

Due to the incubation period ofinfluenza and the course of the disease, this wave of influenza epidemic peakedin Week 7 during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. In Week 8, the number ofsevere cases increased dramatically. Last week (Week 9), the number of mildcases and severe cases began to decline. Nevertheless, the number ofinfluenza-related deaths is still expected to increase in the future.

As the continental air mass will travelsouth this week, Taiwan CDC will continue to promote influenza prevention andscreening and triage procedures for symptomatic patients. At the same time, thepublic is urged to take measures against influenza infection, including washing hands frequently with soap and water, wearing a mask when symptoms develop,resting at home when sick, and avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.twor call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline,1922 (or 0800-001922).