Secretariat, Taipei City Government

With seasonal flu cases reaching a peak roughly between the months of November and March, the Department of Health (DOH) reminds the public to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from influenza during this period.
The agency reminds residents to pay close attention to personal hygiene, exercising good habits such as washing hands with soap frequently, wearing face masks for people with a cough, and staying home when sick to avoid affecting others.
Director Chen Shao-ching at the Division for Disease Control and Prevention at DOH pointed out that a total of 34 new confirmed influenza cases and 1 flu-related fatality were reported last week (Feb. 16 through 22) in Taipei. Between January and February 24, there were 65 confirmed cases and 3 deaths related to influenza. Compared to the figures from the same period last year, there were 50 more cases reported while the number of fatalities remained the same.
Among the reported cases, the age group from 50 to 64 years old accounted for 36.9 percent of the total. This showed a 33.3 percent increase compared to figures from 2015.
The director offers the following tips for individuals with a cough: wear face masks, keep their distance from others, cover their nose and mouth with handkerchief or tissue paper when coughing (use the sleeve of the shirt if forced to react suddenly); discard used tissue paper in lidded trash bins; and wash their hands frequently. People who are sick should remain home if possible and avoid public places to prevent transferring the disease to others. Members of high risk groups (children, elders, and people with major illness) should pay special attention to avoid coming down with the flu virus.
For more information on flu and disease prevention, please visit the Chinese website of DOH (http://health.gov.taipei/Default.aspx?tabid=665) or call the agency (TEL: 02-23753782).