為達最佳瀏覽效果,建議使用 Chrome、Firefox 或 Microsoft Edge 的瀏覽器。

請至Edge官網下載 請至FireFox官網下載 請至Google官網下載
晴時多雲

限制級
您即將進入之新聞內容 需滿18歲 方可瀏覽。
根據「電腦網路內容分級處理辦法」修正條文第六條第三款規定,已於網站首頁或各該限制級網頁,依台灣網站分級推廣基金會規定作標示。 台灣網站分級推廣基金會(TICRF)網站:http://www.ticrf.org.tw

《TAIPEI TIMES》Hospital visits for flu-like illnesses decrease

Centers for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA

Centers for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

2023/11/15 03:00

SICK BOY: The CDC said that 15 serious cases included a four-year-old who developed spasms and a high fever, and was diagnosed with necrotizing encephalopathy

By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The number of hospital visits for flu-like illness dropped to 68,564 last week, but it is still higher than the same week in the past three years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.

Flu viruses accounted for most of the respiratory infections identified at contracted labs in the past four weeks, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) said.

Of the identified flu infections, influenza A (H3N2) was the most common type in the past four weeks, Lee said.

There were 15 cases of serious flu complications and four flu-related deaths reported last week, with all of them unvaccinated this flu season, she said.

CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said that of the 15 serious cases, most are elderly people, but the youngest is a four-year-old boy who has a congenital disorder and a record of febrile seizures.

The boy was not vaccinated this flu season, Lin said.

The boy had a runny nose and a cough with sputum, then developed spasms and a high fever, he said.

The boy tested positive for influenza B and was admitted to an intensive care unit, where he was diagnosed with acute necrotizing encephalopathy and has been intubated for more than 10 days, he said.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is not a common flu-related complication and it usually has a relatively poor prognosis, although progression of the condition is rapid, Lin said.

Young children, elderly people, pregnant women and people with high-risk underlying health conditions face a greater risk of developing severe complications from flu infection, so they should get vaccinated as soon as possible, he said.

CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said that since the government-funded flu vaccination program was launched on Oct. 2, more than 5.24 million people have received a flu shot, about 110,000 more than the same period last year.

There were 8,831 hospital visits for enterovirus infections reported last week, down 7.9 percent from the previous week, Lee said.

However, the virus is still circulating, with group A coxsackieviruses the most common type detected, she said.

An eight-day-old girl was reported with a severe case of enterovirus, the youngest serious case this year, Lin said.

The girl had generalized seizures, tachypnea, a rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia and herpangina, he said.

Tests confirmed a coxsackievirus A6 infection, he said, adding that the girl’s condition improved after treatment and has has been discharged from hospital.

While April to October is usually the peak for enterovirus infections, the disease can be contracted all year round, he said.

Adults usually have no or mild symptoms, but they can transmit the virus to children if they are not careful, he said.

People should change their clothes upon entering their home and wash their hands thoroughly with soap before interacting with young children, he said.

CDC data showed that 11 cases of severe enterovirus have been reported this year, all of them children aged five or younger.

新聞來源:TAIPEI TIMES

不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎  點我下載APP  按我看活動辦法

焦點今日熱門
看更多!請加入自由時報粉絲團

網友回應

載入中
此網頁已閒置超過5分鐘,請點擊透明黑底或右下角 X 鈕。