Taiwan is handing out free flu antivirals to more people as infections and deaths climb — bad news for public health, but a sign the government is moving early.

• From Aug. 24 to Sept. 30, free antivirals like Tamiflu go to health workers, nursing home residents and staff, and other at-risk groups.
• Flu visits topped 95,000 in a single week, with 80 severe cases and 17 deaths reported in the latest week.
• H1N1 is driving most of the severe illness, and Type A viruses make up almost 90% of cases in circulation.
• A 5-year-old girl with no health problems and no flu shot died of brain swelling, kidney failure and blood infection after two weeks in hospital.
• This flu season has now caused more than 1,000 severe cases and about 200 deaths across Taiwan.

Outlook: Flu activity is expected to keep rising into September, so expect more pressure on hospitals and a fresh push to get people vaccinated.