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| Get the flu shot now, health experts say |
Hong Kong health authorities have renewed a call for residents to get flu shots after 122 deaths were recorded in the four weeks since the influenza season began early January.
According
to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), a total of 199 adults were put under
intensive care on admission since the city entered the flu season, mostly
elderly people.
More
than 70 percent of the adult patients in these cases were unvaccinated, while
90 percent of those who died were aged 65 and above.
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Separately,
nine cases of children contracting severe flu complications were reported, and
seven of them were unvaccinated.
CHP
controller Edwin Tsui warned flu cases are still on the rise, with the peak
season lasting between three to four months.
“With reference to previous surveillance data, virus activity
will continue to increase for a period of time after the start of the influenza
season before peaking,” Tsui said. “Currently available data indicate that the
influenza activity level is still on the rise.”
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Tsui warned Hong Kong people who are traveling to keep an eye on
the flu situation at their destinations before departing. The places where the
flu activity remains at a high level include mainland China, Japan, Korea, Europe
and North America.
In addition, Tsui said they should take adequate protective
measures, such as getting vaccinated as soon as possible and to wear masks when
in crowded places.
“All persons aged above
six months… particularly the elderly and children who have a higher risk of
becoming infected with influenza and developing complications, should act
immediately to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after
infection,” Tsui said.
The CHP statement was issued a few days after popular Taiwanese
celebrity Barbie Hsu had reportedly died from flu-related pneumonia while on
vacation in Japan.
Her death appeared to have sparked a rush for the flu jab among
people in Hong Kong.
As of Sunday, more than 1.9 million doses of flu vaccine have
been administered in Hong Kong, a 6.4 per cent increase compared with last
year.
The number of schools taking part in CHP’s flu vaccination program
has also risen this year, with 98 percent of kindergartens, child care centres,
primary and secondary schools taking part.
Last year, only 80 percent of kindergartens and child care centers participated.
The vaccination rate among children aged six months to two years
old remain comparatively low at around 21 percent.
