According to CDC Director-General Steve Kuo, the H1N1 situation has been moderating over the past five weeks since the previous peak but a slight jump in the number of patients diagnosed with the new flu strain recently signals the beginning of the second wave.

Statistics released Wednesday by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) show that there was one more patient hospitalized with the H1N1 flu strain than a day earlier, bringing to 355 the total number of such cases since the outbreak began.

While 16 of the patients remained in the hospital, 315 had recovered and been discharged, and 24 others had died, the CECC said.

Meanwhile, 442 classes in 294 schools around the country remained suspended because of H1N1 infections among students. The number of affected classes accounted for 0.29 percent of the total, according to the CECC.

Although epidemiologists have predicted that the second peak would appear in November, Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang said it is hard to predict when the peak will be and that the DOH will continue to monitor the situation closely.

To help the public prepare for the epidemic, the DOH will distribute 5 million masks in inventory to 100,000 low-income families beginning Nov. 1, Yaung said.

Also, the CECC is expected to make public details regarding its H1N1 vaccination program on Oct. 20, when the results of human clinical trials for the H1N1 vaccine produced by local vaccine manufacturer Adimmune Corp. are expected to be released, DOH Deputy Minister Chang Shen-chwen said.

While people under 10 years of age will probably have to receive two shots, those aged 10 years and older will likely need only one to be protected against the disease, Chang said.