Taiwan expands government-funded flu drug coverage as cases rise

Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday it will expand eligibility for government-funded influenza antivirals from Aug. 24 through Sept. 30 amid a gradual rise in flu activity.

The expanded coverage will include health care personnel involved in disease prevention, residents and staff at nursing and long-term care facilities, and other designated groups, the CDC said at its regular weekly press conference.

A total of 95,011 people sought outpatient or emergency treatment for flu-like illness from Aug. 9-15, up 1.2 percent from the previous week, according to the CDC.

The agency also reported 80 new severe flu cases and 17 deaths from Aug. 11-17, with H1N1 accounting for most of the cases and deaths.

Among the deaths was a 5-year-old girl in northern Taiwan who had no underlying health conditions and had never been vaccinated against influenza, CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said.

The girl developed a fever and cough in late July and later experienced vomiting, reduced appetite and activity, difficulty walking and upward rolling of her eyes, Lin said.

She was taken to hospital with a fever of 42 degrees Celsius, drowsiness and low blood oxygen, Lin said. Tests confirmed influenza, while further examinations found brain swelling.

Doctors diagnosed influenza-associated encephalitis and encephalopathy, Lin said, adding that the girl tested positive for H1N1 and later developed acute kidney failure and septic shock before dying after two weeks of treatment.

Type A viruses currently account for 89 percent of influenza cases detected in community surveillance, the CDC said. Since the current flu season began in October last year, Taiwan has recorded 1,075 severe cases and 205 deaths.

Government-funded antivirals, including Tamiflu and Eraflu, are available at about 4,000 contracted medical facilities nationwide, the CDC said.

People with warning signs such as difficulty breathing, bluish skin, bloody sputum, chest pain, altered consciousness or low blood pressure should seek immediate medical attention, it added.