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8 ways to avoid catching the flu, from wearing a face mask to getting enough sleep
- With Hong Kong in peak flu season and a mysterious pneumonia outbreak taking place in Wuhan, China, it’s time to take measures to stay healthy
- Experts give their tips on how to steer clear of sickness if you want to avoid having a flu jab
Reading Time:4 minutes
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Flu season is in full swing in the US, Canada, parts of Europe, Japan – and most of all in Hong Kong. Public hospitals in the city have installed extra beds to prepare for the rise in patients, and health officials have been urging Hongkongers for months to get their flu jabs.
For good reason: in recent years the city has experienced virulent flu seasons, including the period from December 2018 to April 2019 when influenza landed 601 adults in intensive care units and there were 356 flu-related deaths. What’s more, in recent weeks, a mysterious pneumonia broke out in Wuhan in central China that has come from a coronavirus – the same type of bug that caused the Sars epidemic in 2003.
The city’s health department says peak influenza season extends from January to March or even April, with three flu types known as influenza A, B and C. The Centre for Health Protection advises people aged six months or above who have not yet had influenza vaccinations to get them as early as possible to better protect themselves.
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This is particularly key for children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses. Timing is a factor, as “it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination,” the centre says.
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Many health experts, including Dr Wilson Lam, a specialist in infectious disease at Chiron Medical in Hong Kong’s Central business area, are aware that many people choose not to get a jab.
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