Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/25
By: Ku Chuan and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) The cold and damp weather over the past week is seen as one of the causes for a sharp increase of influenza-like illnesses in Taipei, the city’s Department of Health said Thursday.

As of Thursday, this week has seen parainfluenza cases increase dramatically to 7,600, up 4,600 over the 3,000 recorded last week, according to Chen Shao-ching (陳少卿), director of the department.

She attributed the sharp increase to the cold and damp weather, as well to the start of a new semester at elementary and middle schools last week.

Severe cases of flu in the city from Jan. 1 to Feb. 24 reached 65, a whopping increase of 50 cases from the same period of last year, according to her department’s statistics. Of the 65, three died.     [FULL  STORY]