Taiwan: Forty-two people killed by B-type flu

[tetano]

Taipei, Feb. 7 (CNA) Four more people in Taiwan died from flu complications Tuesday, raising the total number of flu-related deaths in the country since last July to 54, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that day.

Of the 54 fatalities, 42 were from complications of the Yamagata Influenza B strain, while 12 people died of the Type A flu virus, the CDC said.

Seven of the 42 people who succumbed had been vaccinated, according to CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw.


The vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the 2011-2012 flu season was supposed to protect against the same three viruses that last year's flu vaccine did, but no recommendations were made against Yamagata Influenza B, according to Chou, who noted that regardless of WHO or local directives, there could be misfires or miscalculations wherever predictions are involved.

He said the CDC might alter its next assessment when it places new orders for flu vaccine for the 2012-2013 flu season.


http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aLIV&ID=201202070052

 

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Taiwan: Forty-two people killed by B-type flu

From CDC ROC (Taiwan):
Taiwan CDC has antigenically characterized 273 human influenza viruses [2 pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 29 influenza A (H3), 242 influenza B] since July 1, 2011. 93% (n=27) of the influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested were related to the A (H3N2) vaccine component (A/Perth/16/2009). 14.9% (n=36) of the influenza B viruses tested belonged to the B/Victoria lineage and were related to the B component of the 2011-12 influenza vaccine (B/Brisbane/60/2008).
http://flu.cdc.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=4091&CtUnit=960&BaseDSD=7&mp=151

Meaning 85.1% of the B viruses tested were not components of the vaccine.