TAIPEI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan recorded two deaths of flu and 79 new serious cases last week as the winter flu season entered its peak, the island's health agency said Tuesday.

The two deaths were women patients aged 67 and 47, the health agency said in a press release, adding that the latter died less than five days after first showing symptoms.

Nearly 114,000 people went to hospital for flu treatment from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, slightly higher than the previous week, the statement said.

About 76 percent of the flu cases were caused by the influenza A/H1N1 virus, it added.

Since Oct. 1, 2019, the island has recorded 499 serious flu cases, higher than previous years, about 91 percent of whom were infected by the A/H1N1 virus. A total of 26 deaths were caused by the virus in the same period.