TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported a decade-high flu epidemic on Tuesday (Jan. 16), with 127,000 emergency visits emerging from influenza-like illnesses, primarily caused by adenoviruses and influenza viruses.
Guo Hung-wei, director of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Center, said between Jan. 9 and 15, 42 new severe flu complications were added, including five cases of Type A H1N1, 34 of Type A H3N2, and three of Type B.
Guo added that patients' ages spanned from less than 10 years to over 90 years old, with 30 cases where influenza vaccinations were not received.
During the same period, eleven deaths were reported, comprising three from Type A H1N1, seven from Type A H3N2, and one from Type B influenza.
Among these fatalities, eight victims did not receive flu vaccinations, belonging to the same age range as the newly complicated cases.
Meanwhile, CDC physician Lin Yung-ching elaborated on the distressing news, noting the youngest death being a 7-year-old girl from the north, marking the youngest fatality of 2024.