Hong Kong faces ‘relatively severe’ flu outbreak, health authorities warn
Centre for Health Protection says percentage of positive cases has exceeded peak of previous season, with 451 outbreaks reported in schools so far
Hong Kong could face a “relatively severe” summer influenza outbreak that already started late this year, health authorities have warned, as the percentage of positive cases has already exceeded the peak of the previous season and flu activity continues to rise.
Among them, 43 cases occurred in kindergartens or childcare centres, 244 were recorded in primary schools and 164 in secondary schools.
The latest surveillance data showed that 12.02 per cent of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal flu viruses during the week of October 5 to October 11, up from 9.70 per cent the previous week.
The figure also surpassed the winter flu season’s peak of 10.54 per cent recorded earlier this year.
Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, the centre’s controller, said that the emergence of a summer influenza season in September was uncommon, as it typically occurred between July and August and lasted for six to 18 weeks.
He added that the protective immunity generated by the last seasonal influenza vaccination would have waned, as most people received their jabs more than nine months ago.