Taipei: Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Tuesday that it will expand eligibility for government-funded influenza antivirals from August 24 through September 30 as flu activity gradually increases. The expansion will cover health care personnel involved in disease prevention, residents and staff at nursing and long-term care facilities, and other designated groups, according to CDC officials at their regular weekly press conference.

According to Focus Taiwan, a total of 95,011 people sought outpatient or emergency treatment for flu-like illness from August 9 to 15, marking a 1.2 percent increase from the previous week. The agency also reported 80 new severe flu cases and 17 deaths from August 11 to 17, with the H1N1 strain responsible for most cases and fatalities.

Among the recent deaths was a 5-year-old girl in northern Taiwan with no underlying health conditions who had not been vaccinated against influenza. CDC physician Lin Yung-ching said the girl developed a fever and cough in late July and later experienced symptoms such as vomiting, reduced appetite and activity, difficulty walking, and upward rolling of her eyes. Despite being taken to the hospital with a fever of 42 degrees Celsius, drowsiness, and low blood oxygen, tests confirmed influenza, and further examinations revealed brain swelling.

Doctors diagnosed her with influenza-associated encephalitis and encephalopathy, Lin stated. The girl tested positive for H1N1 and subsequently developed acute kidney failure and septic shock before passing away after two weeks of treatment. Type A viruses currently account for 89 percent of influenza cases detected in community surveillance, the CDC noted. Since the current flu season began in October last year, Taiwan has recorded 1,075 severe cases and 205 deaths.

The CDC highlighted that government-funded antivirals, including Tamiflu and Eraflu, are available at approximately 4,000 contracted medical facilities nationwide. The agency urged individuals showing warning signs such as difficulty breathing, bluish skin, bloody sputum, chest pain, altered consciousness, or low blood pressure to seek immediate medical attention.