Severe influenza cases in Taiwan in 2018-19 season - 578 serious cases and 68 fatalities

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Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Since Oct. 1, Taiwan has reported 124 cases of severe seasonal influenza with complications, 90 percent of which were patients who had not obtained the flu vaccine, a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

In the week ending Dec. 15, a total of 61,628 people had sought outpatient and emergency treatment for flu-like symptoms at hospitals and clinics throughout the country, said Liu Ting-ping (劉定萍), director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center.

During that week, 25 patients developed serious flu complications, Liu said, adding that 23 of those patients had not received flu vaccines.

Among the 23 patients were two babies and two pregnant women who had to be hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs), she said.

Since Oct. 1, the total number of severe flu cases reported around Taiwan has climbed to 124, the second highest number in the past five flu seasons, Liu said.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201812180019.aspx

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Flu claimed 5 more lives last week

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Five people died of seasonal influenza in Taiwan last week, bringing the death toll since October 2018 to 18, as the flu outbreak continues to spread, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

All five suffered from chronic diseases and had not received a flu vaccination, according to CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青).

In the week ending Jan. 5, a total of 76,562 people sought outpatient and emergency treatment for flu-like symptoms at hospitals and clinics in Taiwan, compared with 74,470 people the week before, the CDC data shows.

During the most recent week for which figures are available, 24 patients developed serious flu complications, including 15 cases of H1N1, said Liu Ting-ping (劉定萍), director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center.

Of the five fatalities, three contracted H3N2 and two contracted H1N1 , Liu said.

Since Oct. 1, the total number of severe flu cases reported around Taiwan has climbed to 188 and the predominant flu strains have been H3N2 (55 percent) and H1N1 (36 percent), Liu said. Of the 18 fatalities, 11 contracted H3N2 and seven contracted H1N1.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201901080014.aspx

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Taiwan CDC: 7 new deaths as a result of flu infections

AIPEI (Taiwan News) ? Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today seven more people have died this season due to flu-related complications.
One of the seven was a four-year-old girl who suffered both encephalitis and pneumonia after contracting the H1N1 strain of the influenza virus. The girl passed away just two days after she began to exhibit symptoms.
CNA interviewed CDC Deputy Director Dr. Yi-jun Luo (羅一鈞) Friday afternoon. The doctor said the flu epidemic should not be ignored and immediate action ought to be taken at the first sign of serious symptoms.
The girl reportedly caught a fever Jan. 22 and began vomiting and exhibiting fatigue the next day, after which she was rushed to hospital. An MRI scan revealed her brain was inflamed and bleeding.
Doctors were unable to save her.
The other six who recently passed away were aged between 52 and 93, and all had a history of chronic illness. Of the seven in total, six contracted the H1N1 strain and one contracted the H3N2 flu virus.
The number of new influenza cases among populations in the world?s northern hemisphere has increased dramatically over the past few weeks, said Dr. Luo.
Four children in Taiwan have died this season after contracting the H1N1 virus, he commented. Dr. Luo said parents should watch their children closely if they develop a cold, and be on the lookout for more serious developments like vomiting, twitching and loss of consciousness.

A total of 406 cases with serious complications have been recorded since Oct. 1 2018 and 34 people have died, according to CNA.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3630385

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Flu still at peak season in Taiwan: CDC

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The flu season in Taiwan is still at a peak, with eight flu-related deaths reported last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday.

During the Feb. 2-10 Lunar New Year holiday, the number of people seeking treatment for flu at hospitals totaled 100,088, said Liu Ting-ping (劉定萍), director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center.

From Feb. 2-11, there were also 69 new cases of patients suffering from severe complications due to the flu, mostly the H1N1 type, the majority of whom were aged over 50, Liu said.

The eight flu deaths reported last week all involved victims aged between 56 and 98 with histories of chronic disease, she added.

CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said the two youngest patients who suffered severe flu were aged two and four, neither of whom had been vaccinated.

The two-year old girl had since been discharged from hospital, while the four-year old boy was still being treated, according to the CDC.

Based on CDC data, Lo said the number of flu patients with severe complications since October now totals 475.

In Taiwan, the flu season typically starts in October, escalates around November and peaks by the end of the year or around the Lunar New Year, which typically falls in late January to mid-February, according to the CDC.

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6 more die from flu complications in Taiwan this week

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) ? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced Tuesday that there have been six more deaths as a result of influenza infections over the past week.
Since the beginning of last week, over 99,000 emergency visits were made to hospitals and clinics due to people experiencing flu-like symptoms. 59 critical cases have been reported, and six people have died, writes Liberty Times.
A month-old infant male?the youngest recorded sufferer of the season, which began in October last year?was recently admitted to hospital and is undergoing treatment.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3641454

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Eight flu-related deaths reported last week: CDC

Eight people died of the flu last week, while the peak influenza season in Taiwan could be over by the end of this month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
Nationwide, 86,829 flu-like illnesses were reported, 5 percent less than the week before, Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Kuo ****-wei (郭宏偉) said.
There were 44 cases of flu-related serious complications, mainly from type A influenza virus, 25 cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus, with 27 cases involving people 65 or older and 12 cases where the patients were aged 50 to 64, he said.
In the cases of death, the patients were aged 50 to 85, seven of whom had chronic diseases and six who had not been vaccinated for this year?s flu season, CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said.
In all eight cases, the patient?s illness followed a similar course, beginning with common flu symptoms such as a fever, coughing and muscle pain, and later developing into difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and pneumonia, with an average of 10 days after the onset of symptoms, Lin said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/03/06/2003710941