Taiwan reports 9 severe swine flu cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_...&lang=eng_news

Taiwan reports second severe swine flu case
Central News Agency
2009-07-27 10:05 PM

Taiwan, July 27 (CNA) A second severe swine flu case has been confirmed in Taiwan as the influenza A (H1N1) virus has spread widely in local communities, a health official said Monday.

"The second case involved a 39-year-old man with liver and kidney disease, " said Lin Ting, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control under the Cabinet-level Department of Health.

The man, a bachelor who lives with his mother, was hospitalized July 14 after developing swine flu symptoms and was transferred to an intensive care unit July 21, Lin said.

"The man is conscious, but his overall condition is not good, " Lin said.

As the patient, who underwent surgery in 2006 to treat liver cancer, has not traveled abroad in recent months, he likely contracted the virus in a local community, Lin said, adding that the man's mother and colleagues have not fallen victim to the infection.

The first severe swine flu victim in Taiwan is still receiving treatment in an ICU, Lin added.

Meanwhile, Lin said, this summer's first severe seasonal flu case was reported in northern Taiwan earlier this month.

The case involved a nurse at a medical center in northern Taiwan, who contracted the seasonal influenza virus from a 5-year-old boy, Lin said.

The 21-year-old nurse developed a high fever July 19 and was sent to an emergency ward after developing pneumonia. She later tested positive for the H3N2 virus, Lin said.

Of the 41 people who have had close contacts with the boy, only six were confirmed to have been infected by the same virus, including three nurses. Only one was a severe case, while the others were mild.

All of them, including the severe case, have recovered after taking the anti-flu drug Tamiflu, Lin said.

"Now is not the high season for seasonal flu, but the recent cases are worthy of attention, " Lin said. He urged frontline medical personnel to take precautionary measures when treating patients.

(By Sofia Wu)

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan reports 5 severe swine flu cases

Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_...&lang=eng_news

Severe A(H1N1) swine flu cases reach 5
All of the cases are male, though one of the latest is a six-year-old kindergarten pupil
Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Centers for Disease Control confirmed three more severe cases of A(H1N1) swine flu virus including a six-year-old boy yesterday, bringing the total for Taiwan to five.

All of the cases were men, mostly in their 30s, though one of the latest was a six-year-old kindergarten pupil from Central Taiwan, said CDC Vice Director Lin Ting. Five out of 21 fellow pupils had contracted light cases of the virus, he said. All cases had occurred during July.

The two other new severe A(H1N1) patients were a 32-year-old bus driver from East Taiwan who had recently visited Hong Kong and Shenzhen in Southern China, and a 32-year-old electronics expert from the North, Lin said, emphasizing that the cases were spread all over the country.

The first two severe cases, men aged 34 and 39 respectively, had reportedly not traveled overseas recently, leading officials to conclude they were victims of community infections. Both were still in critical condition in intensive care, according to Lin.

@An estimated 90 percent of the 1,000 general flu cases recorded each week were diagnosed as A(H1N1), but most could be treated within a week, officials said.

No deaths of the virus have been recorded in Taiwan, while most of the original cases were imported first from the United States and later from Thailand.

The second severe case, a 39-year-old man, had a history of kidney and liver disease complicating his situation, Lin said. All four severe A(H1N1) patients were still receiving medical treatment at intensive care units, he said.

The Department of Health also announced yesterday that any new swine flu patients would have the anti-virus drug Tamiflu covered by the national health insurance system beginning Aug. 15 regardless whether they were suffering from a light or a severe strain.

If A(H1N1) was found through a rapid testing method, administering Tamiflu within 48 hours could prevent the light version of the virus from turning into the more severe strain, officials said.

The CDC emphasized its policy was reducing the impact of A(H1N1) and curing its patients, rather than the earlier attempts at keeping the disease out of Taiwan. The government has been predicting the situation might turn more serious after September with the advent of colder weather and the general expansion of flu among the public.

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan reports 9 severe swine flu cases

Source: http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/Ge...ontentID=83934

08/04/2009
Three more critically ill from H1N1

H1N1 flu continues to spread in Taiwan despite disease prevention efforts. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) added three more critical cases to the total tally. Taiwan now has seen 9 critical cases, 15 cluster infections and one death since the virus started spreading in early July.

CDC chief Steve Kuo described the status of the three critical cases Tuesday. He said,"They are all doing relatively well. This is a good sign that H1N1 cases are getting reported and treated earlier."

Kuo also announced one new cluster infection in a summer camp in Northern Taiwan. As a result, there were 24 ill and 13 confirmed as suffering from H1N1 and put in isolated care. Recent statistics show a rapid rise in H1N1 cases. More than a quarter of the hospitals in Taiwan now have rapid testing kits for H1N1 while the rest will get them soon.