Youngest death from influenza this flu season aged under 2

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday said that the youngest person to have died from influenza in the current flu season was under 2 years of age, and died from necrotizing encephalopathy complications.

CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said at a Tuesday press conference that the baby girl previously received a flu shot. She developed symptoms including a fever, coughing, a runny nose, reduced activity and loss of appetite in the middle of February.

The girl tested positive for influenza A after being taken to hospital and was treated with antiviral drugs. However, her fever reached 42 degrees Celsius the next day, while developing difficulty in breathing and an altered state of consciousness, Lin said.

She was taken to the emergency room for treatment, but died on the fourth day. The cause of death was determined to be complications of encephalitis and septic shock from the influenza, resulting in multiple organ failure.

About 137,000 people sought medical attention for influenza-like symptoms from Feb. 16-22, down about 9 percent from a week earlier, indicating that the epidemic is easing up, according to the CDC.

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said at the press conference, however, the number was still the second highest for the same period in the past 10 flu seasons, he said.

From Feb. 18-24, there have been 83 influenza cases with severe complications and 23 deaths, Kuo said.

Most newly diagnosed cases and deaths involved the H1N1 strain of influenza A, he added.

Regarding the 100,000 extra doses of flu vaccines, CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-huai (曾淑慧) said they were provided for high-risk individuals including those aged 65 and over, infants over six months old, pregnant women, parents with infants under six months old, medical staff and childcare providers.

Over 70,000 flu shots have been administered since Feb. 20, with only about 20,000 left.

With many flu shots being reserved, Tseng urges high-risk individuals to get a jab as soon as possible.

(By Tseng Yi-ning and Wu Kuan-hsien)

Enditem/AW