Elementary, junior high schools seeing H1N1 surge TAIPEI, Taiwan -- In the last week alone, the number of swine flu infections observed across elementary and junior high school campuses have jumped by 10 to 20 percent, health officials said yesterday. The resurgence of the A(H1N1) swine flu has been especially perceptible in northern regions of the island, said Deputy Director-General Chou Zhi-hao of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Amid a recent drop in temperatures on the island, the novel virus has wended its way back to communities, with classrooms continuing to present themselves as prime breeding ground.
Of the 14 hospitalized A(H1N1) cases reported yesterday, nine of them involved children nine years or younger, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
Students should not take fever reducers to combat symptoms of the swine flu without consultation with a medical professional, CECC officials warned. Even in the absence of fever, the virus remains active and contagious, officials said.
Department of Health (DOH) Vice Minister Chang Shan-chwen was cited as saying that medical facilities have seen increased traffic in outpatient flu clinics as well as in emergency rooms in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, reports surfaced of another Oseltamivir-resistant A(H1N1) virus strain.
Oseltamivir is an antiviral drug commonly known by its trade name Tamiflu, made by pharmaceutical company Roche.
The CECC confirmed the discovery of the resistant flu strain in a 44-year-old male and maintained that the infection remained an isolated case.
No signs of further transmission or collective outbreak were detected, said the CECC.
This is the second mutated form of the flu discovered in Taiwan.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 39 A(H1N1) flu-resistant strains reported across the globe.
Including the latest flu-resistant strain would bring the tally to 40, said Chang.
There are 960,000 courses of another antiviral drug Relenza in government stockpiles, intended for use when resistance is shown against Tamiflu, Chang remarked.
Health officials are currently discussing the possibility of prescribing Relenza to those with A(H1N1) infections that do not respond to Tamiflu, the vice minister indicated. In related news, A(H1N1) vaccinations are set to roll out beginning this Sunday, said the United Evening News.
Typhoon Morakot victims are to receive vaccine shots Nov. 1 and medical care personnel on Nov. 2, the report noted. Infants between six months and one year of age will be immunized starting Nov. 9 with vaccine manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, said the report.
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