As August flu cases hit 10-year high, CDC warns of school rise

Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) Flu cases in Taiwan have remained unusually high this summer, with weekly outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illness in August reaching their highest levels for the same period in a decade, according to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday.

During the weekly briefing, CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said flu activity could rise again after schools reopen in September as group activities increase, with cases expected to keep rising until around October.

From Aug. 16-22, 94,340 people sought outpatient or emergency care for flu-like illness, down 2.5 percent from the previous week. Between Aug. 18 and 24, 64 new severe flu cases and 15 deaths were reported, all involving the H1N1 strain.

H1N1 currently accounts for 69.7 percent of flu viruses detected in the community, CDC data showed.

Since October 2025, Taiwan has recorded 1,139 severe flu cases and 220 deaths, with people aged 65 and older and those with chronic illnesses accounting for most severe cases.

Lo said the upcoming school year could bring a new increase in flu infections, particularly as H1N1 is currently dominant. He urged schools and childcare facilities to strengthen infection-control measures and advised people to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places.

Meanwhile, the CDC announced that it has purchased a record 7.05 million publicly funded flu vaccine doses for the upcoming flu season, including about 208,000 doses of enhanced vaccines designed to provide stronger protection.

The enhanced vaccines will initially be prioritized for people aged 65 and older in long-term care and nursing facilities, the CDC said.

The government has also purchased 2.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, including 1.9 million doses of newer-generation vaccines for people aged 12 and older.

According to the CDC, the publicly funded flu and COVID-19 vaccination program is scheduled to begin Oct. 1 for most vulnerable groups, including adults aged 65 and older, preschool-aged children, healthcare and disease prevention personnel, and people with chronic illnesses.

Adults aged 50-64 without high-risk chronic conditions will become eligible from Nov. 2.