H1N1 outbreak expected to abate in mid December: health authorities

Statistics from the Central Epidemics Command Center (CECC) show that as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 1,474 classes in 703 schools around the country remained closed because of H1N1 infections among the students. The number of affected classes accounted for 0.98 percent of the total, the highest level recorded since the outbreak began.

In the last week, the number of patients seeking medical attention for flu-like symptoms accounted for 2.39 percent of the total, also a record high, the CECC said.

However, CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw predicted that the situation will begin to ease in mid December, by which time most elementary and junior high school students will have been vaccinated against the virus.

At present, 615,000 elementary students and 91,000 junior high students have been immunized, and another 10,000 students at comprehensive high schools have also received the shots, Chou said.

Others on the priority list who have been immunized are 7,200 pregnant women, 44,000 children between six months and six years of age, and 47,000 patients with serious illnesses, he added.

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