Hong Kong health authorities brace for flu season as temperatures set to drop on Saturday
- Dr Edwin Tsui expects surge in flu cases between January and April as ‘many people may travel overseas during Christmas and attend celebrations on New Year’s Eve’
- As of December 9, rhinovirus and enterovirus infections prevailed among children with 31.2 per cent, followed by adenovirus and parainfluenza with respective 23.1 and 18.1 per cent
Health authorities have warned the winter influenza season is likely to hit Hong Kong next month, urging high-risk groups to get flu jabs as soon as possible, with the temperature set to drop to 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
Centre for Health Protection controller Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin on Friday said the winter surge in flu cases normally occurred between January and April, expecting the same to happen next year.
“As we entered December, the weather will become colder and the temperature is expected to drop next week,” he said. “As the city has returned to normality, we believe many people may travel overseas during Christmas and attend celebrations on New Year’s Eve.
“During these times, the level of activity of many respiratory tract infections may continue to rise and outbreaks may even occur.”
The Hong Kong Observatory said a cold front moving across the coast of southern China would bring the temperature down to around 12 degrees on Saturday. The first cold weather warning since the beginning of winter this year is set to be issued on Saturday morning, with a few rain patches and light winds expected.
