TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 衛生福利部疾病管制署) reported on Tuesday (Feb. 10) a decline in flu-related outpatient visits from Feb. 1 to 7, with 110,870 cases, marking a 6.9% decrease compared to the previous week. Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉), the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Center director, noted a slight drop in emergency visits, which fell from 10.3% to 10%.
COVID-19 cases saw a slight uptick, with 1,035 outpatient visits in the fifth week of 2026, an 8.8% increase from the previous week. The CDC reported three new severe local cases but no new deaths. Deputy Director General Lin Min-cheng (林明誠) predicted that flu cases might surpass the 11% epidemic threshold in emergency visits during the Lunar New Year, although overall visits could decline.
Flu positivity rates have declined globally, though South Korea and Japan are experiencing an upward trend. South Korea is dealing with type B flu, while Japan is facing both H3N2 and type B. Taiwan has administered over 80,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses since Jan. 1, urging residents to get vaccinated by Feb. 28 to avoid an NT$4,500 fine.
The domestic flu vaccine campaign has reached approximately 6.735 million doses, with 93,000 doses remaining. The CDC incentivized hospitals to offer special infectious disease clinics during the Lunar New Year, with 163 hospitals conducting 1,372 sessions, surpassing previous years.