The True Story: A Ten-Year High, with Older People Most at Risk

On 25 August 2026, Taiwan's CDC reported 94,340 visits for flu-like illness from 16 to 22 August, the highest for August in a decade, and from 18 to 24 August 64 new severe cases and 15 deaths, all H1N1.

Since October 2025 Taiwan had recorded 1,139 severe cases and 220 deaths, mostly people aged 65 or over or with chronic illness. Lo Yi-chun, Director-General of Taiwan's CDC, urged schools and childcare facilities to tighten infection control, and enhanced vaccines were offered first to people 65+ in long-term care.

The Key Lesson: Older People in Care Suffer the Greatest Losses

Thai elderly care homes and long-term care centres look after many people with chronic illness in one building. Points to watch are:

• Shared rooms and close beds where residents spend all day
• Visitors who may bring infection in
• Carers looking after many residents in close contact all day
• Activity and dining rooms where residents gather
• Wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors and equipment that are shared

How Flu Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza spreads easily where people gather, such as schools and nursing homes. It spreads through droplets when people cough or sneeze, and through hands that touch contaminated surfaces and then the eyes, nose or mouth. Most people recover within a week, but young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic illness are at risk of severe disease. Influenza is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Risk Register for Elderly Care Homes and Long-Term Care Centres

1. Residents not vaccinated annually: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: vaccinate everyone before the season as advised by a doctor. Owner: head nurse on duty
2. Sick relatives visit: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: screen visitors and require masks. Owner: centre manager
3. Carers with symptoms keep working: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: stay off work with fever and arrange backups. Owner: centre manager
4. Shared equipment not wiped: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: wipe wheelchairs and BP monitors after every use. Owner: carer
5. Rooms not disinfected after cases: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: fog and ozone-treat rooms after recovery or move-out. Owner: head nurse on duty

Ways to Reduce Flu Risk in Elderly Care Homes

1. Vaccinate residents and carers before the season
2. Screen every visitor on arrival
3. Check residents' temperatures every morning
4. Isolate the sick as soon as symptoms appear
5. Wipe shared equipment after every use
6. Ventilate activity rooms
7. Fog and ozone-treat rooms after cases

How ULV Disinfection Fogging Helps

The World Health Disinfection disinfection service uses ULV fogging machines that turn the disinfectant into a fine mist. It settles across the whole area, including corners, curtains, upholstery and surfaces that hand wiping cannot reach.

• Whole-area coverage without relying on wiping spot by spot
• Quick return to use, typically about 30 minutes after fogging
• Uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page
• The team wears full protective equipment, so owners and staff do not take the risk themselves
• Report and photos after the job for customers, management or authorities
• Tax invoice with 3% withholding tax for companies and agencies

Ozone Treatment for Closed Rooms and Stuffy Spaces

The World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service uses machines that generate ozone gas from oxygen in the air. It suits closed rooms such as meeting rooms, bedrooms, classrooms, sick bays and vans, helping reduce germs in the air and on surfaces and removing stale odours. Ozone breaks back down into oxygen after treatment, leaving no residue.

• Works alongside disinfection fogging: spray or wipe surfaces first, then use ozone for the air and corners of closed rooms
• No people or pets in the room during treatment: the team seals the room and runs a timer
• Ventilate after treatment before normal use resumes
• Machines tested by Intertek, according to WHD's service page
• Ideal after someone has been ill, such as recovered patients' rooms, shared bedrooms and shuttle vans

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many flu deaths has Taiwan had? A: Taiwan's CDC reported 220 deaths from October 2025 to late August 2026, mostly people aged 65+ or with chronic illness.

Q: Can elderly residents' rooms be ozone-treated? A: Yes, but residents must be moved out during treatment and the room ventilated before they return.

Q: Does the fogging disinfectant work on flu? A: The team uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page, and influenza is an enveloped virus that suitable disinfectants can inactivate. Fogging does not replace vaccination or handwashing.

Q: Can I enter the room right after ozone treatment? A: No one should be in the room during treatment. Ventilate afterwards before normal use; the team will advise the right time for the room size.

Q: Can elderly care homes get a tax invoice? A: Yes. Tax invoices are issued and 3% withholding tax is supported. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Related Links and Sources

• World Health Disinfection disinfection service
• World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price
• Influenza information from Thailand's Department of Disease Control, hotline 1422
• WHO seasonal influenza fact sheet

Prevent Flu with Disinfection Fogging and Ozone Treatment

The true story from Taiwan shows older people suffer the greatest losses. Prepared care homes protect lives and families' trust. Reduce the risk with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for dining rooms, activity rooms and corridors, and the ozone treatment service for residents' rooms and isolation rooms. To book, call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268