Press Releases

SFH on seasonal influenza

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function today (March 11):

Reporter: What is the flu situation in Hong Kong? Why do you expect the number of cases...

Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, I would like to say again that as far as the so-called winter surge is concerned, seasonal influenza is only one of the factors. Apart from seasonal influenza, the low temperature also triggered off an attack in people with chronic illness, especially among the elderly people. So adding these factors together, it has caused the congested situation (in public hospitals) that we saw in the past one or two weeks. In the past two days, the situation has slightly eased. Because the temperature will drop in these two days, I anticipate that the attendance at the Accident and Emergency Departments and admission to the hospitals will increase again during the coming weekend as well as early next week. So all measures we have in hand will have to continue to ensure that the hospitals will have adequate capacity to manage all patients who are in dire need.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, March 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:00

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