Hong Kong’s late summer flu season is over. But official says jabs still vital
Controller of Centre for Health Protection says seasonal influenza activity has dropped below baseline level over the past week
Hong Kong has emerged from its summer flu season, which started late and extended into the new year, but a health official is urging the public to get vaccinated immediately to stave off a looming winter surge.
This year’s summer influenza season began in early September and reached its peak in mid-to-late October. It lasted about four months, with authorities putting the death toll at 345 people, including three children.
Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said on Thursday that seasonal influenza activity had dropped below the baseline level in the past week.
“Latest surveillance statistics showed that the percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses last week was 4.08 per cent, while the influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.23 cases per 10,000 people,” he said.
“Both figures have dropped below the baseline level of 4.94 per cent and 0.27 cases, respectively. The centre confirmed that the summer influenza season has ended.”
The predominant strain circulating during the season was influenza A (H3).
