Taipei:Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported a decline in influenza activity, but warned that it could rise again ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in February.

According to Focus Taiwan, 95,916 individuals sought medical attention for influenza-like illnesses from October 25 to 31, marking a 7.3 percent decrease from the previous week. CDC spokesperson Lin Min-cheng highlighted at a press conference that flu activity had fallen below the epidemic threshold. If this trend continues for another week, Taiwan might officially exit the epidemic phase.

However, Lin cautioned that flu activity could increase again around the Lunar New Year based on historical patterns. Despite the overall decline, severe flu cases and deaths continue to occur, prompting the CDC to urge the public to remain cautious and for high-risk individuals to get vaccinated.

The CDC reported 151 new severe flu cases and 46 flu-related deaths last week, with most cases involving unvaccinated individuals. One case involved a 30-year-old woman with obesity and asthma who had not been vaccinated. She developed a fever and reduced consciousness, eventually testing positive for influenza A, and died despite receiving treatment.

Contact tracing revealed that her family members also contracted the flu, suggesting possible household transmission, although community transmission could not be excluded.