Taiwan flu epidemic expected to end late March: CDC

Taipei, March 18 (CNA) The ongoing influenza epidemic in Taiwan is expected to end in late March, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

A total of around 108,000 outpatient and emergency visits due to flu-like illness were reported across Taiwan from March 9-15, indicating a downward trend but still an ongoing epidemic, said Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳), deputy director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, at a regular news briefing.

The most common respiratory pathogen in the community is the flu virus, with the majority being influenza A (H1N1), Lee said.

From March 9-15, 15 deaths and 45 cases with severe flu-related complications were recorded, Lee said.

Since the start of the flu epidemic on Oct. 1 last year, 1,152 severe cases and 254 deaths have been reported, Lee added.

CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said that the flu epidemic remains at a "critical point" and "still requires continued monitoring."

Expanded eligibility for government-funded antiviral drugs for influenza -- covering individuals with symptoms who have family members, colleagues, or classmates with similar symptoms -- has been extended until March 31, the CDC said.