Topic
Latest news and updates on seasonal influenza outbreaks in Hong Kong, including what is being done to combat the virus.
Third girl dies from virus as H1 strain sweeps city, helped by Hong Kong’s low herd immunity and poor vaccination rate
A project at the University of Hong Kong aims to do away with an injection for the influenza A vaccine by developing a nasal spray administered every three years.
With Hong Kong facing a sudden drop in temperatures, not only is it a time to keep warm but also to have those flu and Covid-19 jabs.
With vaccinations now freely available, those from high-risk groups have no excuse to ignore warnings of city’s health professionals
With Covid-19 seemingly under control, Hong Kong has to ensure it now guards against rising influenza cases
As well as keeping up its fight against Covid-19, Hong Kong should prepare for arrival of deadly seasonal threat.
Low vaccination rate may make it easier for dominating flu virus strain to shift, medical professors say.
Authorities say girl developed fever and cough, before suffering convulsions and testing positive for influenza A (H1).
Cambridge and Seoul researchers to join HKU effort to develop nasal spray vaccines at Global Health Institute.
Storage of blood types O, A and B will run out in less than four days, while inventories for type AB will only last five or six days, service says.
Centre for Health Protection says flu activity expected to further increase in coming weeks, and urges residents to ‘heighten their vigilance’.
Dr Edwin Tsui expects a surge in flu cases between January and April as ‘many people may travel overseas during Christmas and attend celebrations on New Year’s Eve’.
Readers discuss the positive momentum in bilateral relations following the Xi-Biden summit, protection against the winter flu season, district council election turnout and taxi drivers’ woes.
Authority’s chief manager says public hospitals bringing in more staff, adding 103 beds and boosting capacity at general outpatient clinics ahead of winter surge.
Experts says respiratory illness cases linked to bacteria have risen, with one noting public hospitals had seen ‘more than 100 cases every month from September onwards.
‘People, children in particular, will be more vulnerable as they have not been exposed to any major flu virus in the past three years,’ authority chief Tony Ko says.
Respiratory expert David Hui from CUHK warns influenza season to peak between January and March, potentially overlapping with Covid outbreak.
Health secretary Lo Chung-mau says sewage tests carried out since Covid-19 pandemic hit had helped predict start of outbreaks and could also signal increased flu infection rate.
Professor Ivan Hung says seasonal flu cycle has been disrupted by Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a delayed start to winter outbreak.
More than 220 flu outbreaks have been recorded in primary and secondary schools since late August.
Girl, who had not received a flu jab, was taken to hospital last week after developing fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.
Half of at-risk residents aged 50 and above unaware that pneumococcus bacteria is common cause of pneumonia, which was ranked city’s second-deadliest medial condition last year.
Professor David Hui urges parents to ensure children are vaccinated, saying those who have died relatively young and have weak resistance.
Just 3.83 per cent of respiratory specimens handled by public laboratories tested positive for flu last week.
Sales for one local producer in May set to reach 70 per cent of firm’s previous peak, according to factory manager.
New ward to be opened at centre on Lantau Island, while some stable patients to be transferred to private institutions as part of measures
Reintroducing mask mandate will have negative impact on society, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says.
David Hui from Chinese University says hospital data shows number of cases starting to drop.
Health experts say immunity to flu infection weakened by years of measures designed to limit Covid-19 spread.
Authorities record 47 serious flu infections in second week of April, including 20 fatalities, according to Professor Lau Yu-lung.