Hong Kong’s health authorities play down South Korean alert over rising flu toll
The South Korean government has raised eyebrows by issuing a flu warning to its citizens travelling to Hong Kong as a major Seoul newspaper claimed the situation here was worse than the deadly Mers outbreak.
The South Korean government has raised eyebrows by issuing a flu warning to its citizens travelling to Hong Kong as a major Seoul newspaper claimed the situation here was worse than the deadly Mers outbreak.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday issued a blue warning – the lowest on a scale of four – over the influenza outbreak in Hong Kong.
“Koreans who plan to visit Hong Kong or reside there are advised to maintain hygiene and take extra care to stay healthy,” the ministry was quoted as saying.
The move came a month after Hong Kong issued a red travel alert to South Korea amid the outbreak of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), upsetting the government in Seoul, as the World Health Organisation did not take similar steps.
Hong Kong’s Department of Health said although the city was experiencing a busy summer flu season, “citizens and tourists should remain vigilant but not over-worry”.
A spokesman said the Centre for Health Protection had been liaising with its South Korean counterpart since June 22 and it had provided them with the latest surveillance data for “clarification”.
