The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that influenza has entered epidemic stage, with new severe cases of infants and cluster infections of hepatitis B C

Guo Hongwei, director of the Epidemic Intelligence Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

Reported by Li Yijia/Staff Reporter

Seasonal influenza has entered the epidemic period. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday that there were more than 110,000 doctor visits last week, 105 severe cases, and 19 deaths.

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The CDC also reported Taiwan's smallest-ever severe case of COVID-19, as well as two new cases of acute viral hepatitis B C linked to the New Taipei City cluster.

Guo Hongwei (Guo Hongwei), director of the Epidemic Intelligence Center of the Department of Disease Control and Prevention, said that influenza and COVID-19 have been the most common locally transmitted respiratory pathogens in the past four weeks, adding that influenza A (H1N1) is the main influenza strain currently detected.

He pointed out that from August 30 to last Saturday, the number of hospital visits with flu-like symptoms reached 115,136, of which 11.2% were emergency cases, exceeding the epidemic threshold of 11%.

"We've entered a flu epidemic," he said.

He further explained that a total of 105 severe influenza cases and 19 influenza-related deaths were confirmed between Tuesday and last week, and more than 80% of the patients had or had chronic underlying diseases.

As for COVID-19, the number of hospital visits during the same time period was 20,199. Although it was slightly lower than the previous week, it was still at a high level. He added that 73 severe cases and 15 deaths were confirmed during the same period.

Among these severe COVID-19 cases, there is an infant who is less than one month old and has no underlying health conditions and does not meet the vaccination requirements, making it the smallest severe COVID-19 case in Taiwan's history, said Lin Yong-ching (Lin Yong-ching), a physician with the Department of Disease Control and Prevention.

The baby developed mild fever and nasal congestion at the end of last month and sought medical treatment the next day. However, due to persistent symptoms, he was hospitalized this month. He was later transferred to the intensive care unit due to difficulty breathing and respiratory distress, and was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia, Lin Yongqing added.

Contact tracing found that the baby had been exposed to a person who was confirmed to be infected with the new crown virus, Lin Yongqing further explained.

Lam Ming-shing, deputy director of the Department of Disease Control and Prevention, said last week the number of hospital visits with flu-like symptoms was the highest for the same week in the past decade and is expected to continue to rise in the next four weeks.

He also pointed out that although the total number of new coronavirus cases has declined, the number of severe cases and deaths remains high.

The CDC also provided an update on an acute viral hepatitis B C cluster infection in a clinic in New Taipei City. Lin Mingcheng said that two more confirmed cases were discovered through expanded testing.

The department reported last week that 11 confirmed cases had received injections at the Antai Songhe Clinic in New Taipei City.

Since the onset of symptoms spanned January 29 to August 18, all 1,118 people who received injections at the clinic between July 1, 2023, and August 27, 2024 were advised to undergo blood testing.

As of Monday, 1,096 people have been notified, and 353 of them have been tested, Lin Mingcheng explained.

The two newly diagnosed cases include: an asymptomatic woman in her 60s, and a man in his 50s who developed symptoms such as loss of appetite, dark urine and general fatigue and was hospitalized.

Experts had previously estimated the positivity rate to be about 5%, but so far only 2 positive cases have been found among the 353 people tested, which is encouraging, Lin Mingcheng said, emphasizing that testing and follow-up work are still ongoing.

He further explained that the symptoms of acute viral hepatitis B C vary, so asymptomatic does not necessarily mean no infection, and he urged all persons who have been notified to get tested as soon as possible.

News source: Taipei Times

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