Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) More than 120,000 people unwell with influenza-like symptoms visited the doctor last week, with the number of cases expected to continue rising, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.
At a press conference Tuesday, Central Epidemic Command Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) said the number of people with influenza-like symptoms visiting the doctor was on the rise, with the total last week hitting 123,614 -- a 10-year high for that period.
Lee said that adenovirus topped the list of dominating viruses over the past four weeks at 43 percent of the total, followed by influenza viruses (29.8 percent, mainly influenza A virus H3N2), and parainfluenza virus (11.9 percent).
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 were also reported, she added.
CDC Deputy Director General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said cases of COVID-19 and influenza-like illnesses are expected to rise in the upcoming three weeks and will peak in the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 week, a week before Lunar New Year (LNY).
The number of influenza-like illnesses reported that week is expected to hit 150,000, the second highest in 10 years, he added.
According to CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青), there were three deaths from influenza last week, including a woman in her 40s who died from pneumonia-related complications.
The woman living in northern Taiwan suffered from diabetes and had not received the flu vaccine, Lin said.
After two days of experiencing symptoms in late December, the woman developed breathing difficulties and had a drop in blood pressure. She had a high white blood cell count and high blood sugar levels, and had developed pneumonia, Lin added.
The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia-complicated respiratory failure and diabetic ketoacidosis and was hospitalized in intensive care, but died seven days after being admitted, Lin said.
According to the CDC, as of Jan. 8, 52.3 percent of people aged 65 or above have received the flu vaccine, with Lo urging the unvaccinated elderly to get their shot as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, 515 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Jan. 2-8, a five-month high, Lo said.
In that period, 48 deaths were also reported, the highest since last September, he added.
Lo also said that since school is set to resume after the LNY holiday and is followed by the 228 Memorial Day long weekend, there could be another wave of cases.
Regarding COVID-19 variants, Lo said the JN.1 variant currently makes up around 25% of cases in Taiwan, and that it may replace the EG.5 variant and become dominant before LNY.
He added that the effect of JN.1 on Taiwan's overall COVID-19 situation will only be known after LNY.
Lo also called on people to wear masks in crowded places.
Beginning Nov. 26, 2023, those arriving from China, Hong Kong, and Macao have been encouraged to take tests at the airport upon arrival if they have influenza-like symptoms.
As of Jan. 7, 250 of the 347 travelers have tested positive, with influenza and COVID-19 being the main illnesses, at 68.4 percent and 14.8 percent respectively.
