Taiwan Reports 817 COVID-19 Hospitalizations, 40 Deaths And Orders Additional 20,000 Doses Of Molnupiravir!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 27, 2024 4 months, 3 weeks, 5 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: Taiwan is grappling with a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting an alarming increase in hospitalizations. Last week, 817 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, a 30.9% jump from the 624 cases reported the previous week. This surge has put additional strain on the healthcare system, which is also dealing with increased visits due to other illnesses.
Taiwan Reports 817 COVID-19 Hospitalizations, 40 Deaths And Orders
Additional 20,000 Doses Of Molnupiravir
Death Toll and Rising Cases
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 also saw a slight increase. Forty people succumbed to the virus last week, up from 38 the previous week. The CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Center Director, Guo Hung-wei, highlighted that domestic COVID-19 activity has been on the rise for five consecutive weeks. However, the increase in hospitalizations last week was lower than the previous two weeks, indicating a potentially slowing trend.
Predictions and Preparations
According to local
COVID-19 News coverages, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui shared insights from a CDC simulation predicting that the number of weekly hospitalizations could peak in mid-July.
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202406260023
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/06/26/2003819910
The simulation also forecasts that COVID-19 activity might plateau in the latter half of July, with case numbers gradually declining over one to two months. In response to the rising cases, the CDC has taken proactive measures to ensure adequate medical supplies.
Addressing Drug Shortages
A recent issue that caught public attention was the reported shortage of Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral drug. A physician highlighted the shortage on social media, questioning the CDC's earlier assurances of sufficient antiviral stocks. Tseng clarified that Molnupiravir is reserved for individuals who cannot take Paxlovid due to health conditions. She reassured the public that, as of Saturday, Taiwan had 103,523 courses of Remdesivir, 230,759 courses of Paxlovid, and 8,562 courses of Molnupiravir available. To address the rising demand, the CDC has ordered an additional 20,000 courses of Molnupiravir, expected to arrive next week.
What is shocking is that countries like Taiwan are still using Molnupiravir that is known to be driving mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06649-6
Flu Epidemic Amid COVID-19
Compounding the challenge of rising COVID-19 cases is the resurgence of influenza. Although the
flu epidemic period typically ends in April, Taiwan saw more than 95,000 hospital visits for flu-like illnesses last week, with about 12% of these visits being at emergency departments. This figure has remained above the epidemic threshold for four consecutive weeks, marking the beginning of the flu epidemic period in early June.
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Category/MPage/Utv3lzlSnTK-t6inZrBZsw
Interestingly, summer flu epidemics are uncommon, with the last occurrence recorded during the 2016-2017 flu season. With the summer vacation approaching, the CDC has urged parents and caregivers to be vigilant about their children’s health and hygiene practices to curb the spread of both COVID-19 and the flu.
Rise in Enterovirus Cases
In addition to COVID-19 and the flu, Taiwan is also experiencing an increase in enterovirus cases. Last week saw 18,931 hospital visits for enterovirus, a 5.7% increase from the previous week. The Coxsackie A virus has been the predominant strain over the past four weeks. The CDC has been monitoring these trends closely to provide timely updates and necessary interventions.
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Category/MPage/G-ehsA14mx8fqOd-UyE0TA
Variant Trends and Reporting Guidelines
The CDC's recent data reveals that the JN.1 variant has been the most prevalent COVID-19 strain in Taiwan, accounting for 62% of domestic cases and 47% of imported cases over the past four weeks. The KP.2 variant follows, making up 18% of domestic cases and 25% of imported cases. Authorities have streamlined reporting requirements, necessitating notification only for moderate or severe cases.
Interestingly, there was no mention of the KP.3 variant. The COV-Spectrum platform shows that it’s the KP.3 that is driving the current COVID-19 surge in Taiwan at the moment.
https://cov-spectrum.org/explore/Taiwan/AllSamples/Past6M
Tseng anticipates that the epidemic will continue to spread slowly until mid-July, with a slower rate of increase in cases expected in the upcoming weeks compared to the previous weeks. This cautious optimism is tempered by the ongoing efforts to manage and mitigate the impact of rising COVID-19 cases, flu infections, and enterovirus spread.
Conclusion
Taiwan's healthcare system is currently navigating a complex landscape marked by rising COVID-19 cases, a surprising summer flu epidemic, and an increase in enterovirus cases. The CDC's proactive measures and transparent communication are critical in managing this multifaceted health crisis. As the situation evolves, public adherence to health guidelines and vaccination efforts remain vital in controlling the spread and ensuring the well-being of the community.
For the latest
COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
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