Influenza-like illness visits have fallen in Taiwan, with a key emergency department measure dropping below the level used to mark an epidemic period. At a 3 November briefing, health officials said the epidemic period could end if the measure remained below that level for another week.
There were 95,916 outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illness from 25 to 31 October, a fall of 7.3 per cent on the previous week. The figures cover visits for symptoms rather than a count of people with laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Flu-like illness accounted for 9.8 per cent of emergency department visits in the week to 31 October, below the 11 per cent epidemic threshold. Officials said that, if the indicator stayed below the threshold for a second consecutive week, they could announce the end of the epidemic phase the following week. The epidemic period remained in effect in the 3 November update.
The distinction matters because one week below the threshold does not mean the virus has disappeared or that serious illness has stopped. The emergency measure describes the proportion of visits involving flu-like symptoms; it does not mean that 9.8 per cent of everyone with symptoms went to an emergency department.
Severe cases are still being reported
Despite the fall in visits, health authorities recorded 151 new cases of severe influenza and 46 flu-related deaths in the separate reporting period from 27 October to 2 November. All 46 deaths involved influenza A(H1N1). The figures are reports received during that period, not a claim that every infection or death occurred during those dates.
Among the 151 severe cases, 146 involved A(H1N1), two involved A(H3N2), two involved influenza A that had not been subtyped and one involved influenza B. Laboratory monitoring also indicated that influenza A(H1N1) was the predominant virus circulating in the community, at about 92.7 per cent.
Since the current flu season began on 1 October, Taiwan had recorded 542 severe cases and 95 deaths by the 3 November update. Of the severe cases, 69 per cent involved people aged 65 or over and 85.4 per cent involved people with a history of chronic illness. These groups can overlap.
Of the severe cases, 98.3 per cent had not received this season’s flu vaccine. That figure describes the people in the severe-case group; it is not a comparison of illness rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated people or a calculation of vaccine effectiveness.
Vaccination and treatment
Taiwan’s publicly funded influenza vaccination programme began on 1 October. From 2 November, a second phase opened access to eligible adults aged 50 to 64 without high-risk chronic conditions. Older adults and several other eligible groups had been included in the first phase.
More than 4.747 million influenza vaccinations had been given by 2 November. The programme also covers eligible groups including young children, pregnant women, people with certain underlying conditions and healthcare workers. Eligibility and the vaccine used depend on the relevant programme rules.
Officials had separately extended expanded access to publicly funded antiviral treatment for certain people with flu-like symptoms in groups considered more likely to pass on influenza. The announced extension runs until 15 November. It includes groups such as healthcare workers, pupils and people who live with or care for someone at high risk of severe illness; clinicians assess whether an individual qualifies.
Influenza can cause fever, cough and other symptoms, but other respiratory infections can produce similar symptoms. Most people recover without specific treatment, while young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions face a greater risk of complications.
Vaccination can reduce the risk of severe illness. Health authorities also recommend measures such as washing hands, covering coughs and staying home when ill. They urge prompt medical attention for danger signs including difficulty breathing, chest pain or a change in consciousness.
Officials cautioned that activity could rise again around the Lunar New Year holidays. That is a forecast based on past patterns, not a confirmed second wave, and they said the outlook would depend on factors including vaccination coverage, circulating strains and holiday travel.
