Taipei: Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang has been hospitalized at Taipei Veterans General Hospital following complications from influenza B, as announced by the Keelung City Government on Tuesday. City government spokesperson Chung Ming stated that Hsieh’s condition deteriorated after two weeks of illness, leading to his admission to the hospital.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Keelung City Council held an emergency meeting due to the mayor’s health issues and decided to postpone the 7th regular session of the 20th council, which was initially scheduled to commence on Wednesday. Keelung City Council Speaker Tung Tzu-wei mentioned that the city’s Department of Civil Affairs had informed the council that Hsieh would not be able to attend the opening session to deliver a municipal report, as required by the Local Government Act.
In a phone interview, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming reassured the public about the mayor’s condition, expressing confidence that Hsieh “will recover.” Meanwhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of influenza cases in Taiwan is on the decline.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui reported a decrease in outpatient and emergency room visits for flu-like illnesses, with 79,135 visits recorded between April 26 and May 2, marking a 5.9 percent drop from the previous week. Tseng noted that influenza B accounts for 89.4 percent of the cases, with influenza viruses being the primary respiratory pathogens currently circulating in the community.
The CDC also reported nine new severe influenza cases and one additional death between April 28 and May 4. Since the onset of the current flu season, Taiwan has recorded 640 severe influenza cases and 126 deaths. The CDC emphasizes frequent handwashing, proper cough etiquette, and mask use in crowded or enclosed spaces to mitigate influenza transmission. They advise individuals with milder symptoms to avoid public places and, if possible, start antiviral treatment within 48 hours of symptom onset.
For more severe symptoms, such as breathing difficulties or chest pain, immediate medical attention is recommended. The CDC continues to stress the importance of vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups, noting that annual shots are advised as immunity wanes and protection takes about two weeks to develop.