Taipei: The ongoing influenza epidemic in Taiwan is expected to end in late March, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday. A total of around 108,000 outpatient and emergency visits due to flu-like illness were reported across Taiwan from March 9-15, indicating a downward trend but still an ongoing epidemic, said Lee Chia-lin, deputy director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, at a regular news briefing.
According to Focus Taiwan, the most common respiratory pathogen in the community is the flu virus, with the majority being influenza A (H1N1), Lee said. From March 9-15, 15 deaths and 45 cases with severe flu-related complications were recorded, Lee said. Since the start of the flu epidemic on Oct. 1 last year, 1,152 severe cases and 254 deaths have been reported, Lee added.
CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui stated that the flu epidemic remains at a "critical point" and "still requires continued monitoring." Expanded eligibility for government-funded antiviral drugs for influenza -- covering individuals with symptoms who have family members, colleagues, or classmates with similar symptoms -- has been extended until March 31, the CDC said.