Avoid Japan, other flu-hit countries, chronically ill Hongkongers urged

Risk for chronically ill patients who contract influenza must be taken seriously, doctors warn after death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu in Japan

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Tourists in Kyoto, Japan. Several travel destinations popular with Hongkongers are undergoing flu surges, including Japan. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:30am, 4 Feb 2025Updated: 11:50am, 5 Feb 2025

Chronically ill patients should consider delaying any planned trips to countries battling flu surges, Hong Kong medical experts have warned, while also urging travellers to keep a record of local emergency numbers and buy insurance ahead of their departure.

The warning came after the family of 48-year-old Taiwanese actress Barbie “Big S” Hsu Shi-yuan revealed on Monday that the beloved celebrity had died from pneumonia after contracting flu while travelling in Japan.

Hsu also reportedly had a heart condition and a history of epilepsy, which had required treatment in hospital due to seizures.

“High-risk patients should consider delaying their travel if the destination has a serious epidemic of influenza,” respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu said.

High-risk patients had a higher chance of developing severe complications if they contracted flu, he said.

“Chronic diseases, especially poorly controlled cardiovascular and lung diseases, increase the risk of death after severe flu,” Leung said. “Flu and other infections may also increase the risk of epileptic attacks among patients with poorly controlled epilepsy.”