Taipei, March 27 (CNA) The peak flu season in Taiwan is expected to end in early April as the number of new patients seeking treatment for influenza-like symptoms dropped 10 percent last week, indicating a slowdown, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.
In the week ending March 24, a total of 92,749 people sought outpatient and emergency treatment for flu-like symptoms at hospitals and clinics throughout the country, down 10 percent from the previous week, said Liu Ting-ping, director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center.
During that week, however, 35 patients developed serious complications from flu infections and five of them died as a result, Liu said.
Since October last year, 670 severe flu cases have been reported in Taiwan, 104 of which have resulted in death, according to CDC statistics.
Some 80 percent of the victims were infected with the most prevalent B-type flu virus, the figures show.
Meanwhile, Liu said the number of influenza cluster infections in Taiwan has been on the decline, dropping to 49 over the past four weeks, with 36 of them occurring in schools.
He said the indications are that the peak flu season will end in April.
