tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Taipei, March 7 (CNA) Eleven people died of seasonal influenza last week, bringing the flu death toll since last July to 107, a Department of Health (DOH) official said Monday.
"Although the flu epidemic has shown signs of subsiding, people should remain on guard because the peak flu period will not end until late March or early April, " said Chang Feng-yi, director-general of the DOH's Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Health, Environment and Social Welfare Committee, Chang said 70-plus of the flu deaths since last July were caused by the H1N1 virus strain.
In 85 percent of those cases, the patient had an underlying medical condition such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or renal diseases, he said.
Citing the findings of a CDC study, Chang said the flu mortality rate was especially high among people over the age of 65 -- almost 13 times higher than in the 19-49 age group.
There have also been 450,000 hospital visits related to seasonal flu or flu-like symptoms since last July, Chang said, citing statistics compiled by the DOH's Bureau of National Health Insurance.
The statistics show that the flu mortality rate was about two-millionths, with elderly people and children under 6 being the most vulnerable groups, he said.
According to Chang, most of the flu victims had not been vaccinated.
Against this backdrop, Chang said, the free vaccination program to be launched this autumn will again prioritize these two groups of people.
At present, he said, there are still 20,000 doses of flu vaccines available for adults and 100,000 doses for children.
"The CDC plans to purchase more flu vaccines soon to ensure an adequate supply," Chang said.
The DOH will convene a national meeting in the offshore county of Penghu later this month to review the existing flu epidemic prevention measures and work out improvement strategies in preparation for the next peak season
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201103070019
"Although the flu epidemic has shown signs of subsiding, people should remain on guard because the peak flu period will not end until late March or early April, " said Chang Feng-yi, director-general of the DOH's Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Health, Environment and Social Welfare Committee, Chang said 70-plus of the flu deaths since last July were caused by the H1N1 virus strain.
In 85 percent of those cases, the patient had an underlying medical condition such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or renal diseases, he said.
Citing the findings of a CDC study, Chang said the flu mortality rate was especially high among people over the age of 65 -- almost 13 times higher than in the 19-49 age group.
There have also been 450,000 hospital visits related to seasonal flu or flu-like symptoms since last July, Chang said, citing statistics compiled by the DOH's Bureau of National Health Insurance.
The statistics show that the flu mortality rate was about two-millionths, with elderly people and children under 6 being the most vulnerable groups, he said.
According to Chang, most of the flu victims had not been vaccinated.
Against this backdrop, Chang said, the free vaccination program to be launched this autumn will again prioritize these two groups of people.
At present, he said, there are still 20,000 doses of flu vaccines available for adults and 100,000 doses for children.
"The CDC plans to purchase more flu vaccines soon to ensure an adequate supply," Chang said.
The DOH will convene a national meeting in the offshore county of Penghu later this month to review the existing flu epidemic prevention measures and work out improvement strategies in preparation for the next peak season
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201103070019