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 this afternoon (January 7):

Reporter: (On increase in influenza activity.)

Secretary for Food and Health: We are concerned about the recent fatal case of seasonal influenza affecting a young person in Hong Kong. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) established in the past year a very effective surveillance system (to monitor) local seasonal influenza activity. Apart from public healthcare institutions and private hospitals, we have invited a number of private (medical) practitioners in the community to act as sentinel points in sampling the respiratory excretion of patients who have influenza-like symptoms. Those (respiratory) specimens (collected) will be tested in the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. This will help us monitor the trend of influenza prevalence as well as the trend in the development or migration of different types of influenza viruses, for example whether it is H3 or H1. Recently, there has been a noticeable trend showing an increase in the circulation of H1N1 influenza, both locally as well as in overseas countries. For the current season, we have to wait for the cumulative analysis of data under our surveillance system. We will be able to observe whether there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of influenza locally and how (the characteristics of) different types of influenza viruses have changed from last year to this year. So we have to wait for the monitoring and surveillance results (of the CHP).

Reporter: (On Government's measures to cope with the increase in influenza activity.)

Secretary for Food and Health: Apart from the very efficient monitoring and surveillance system, we have also provided a set of effective clinical guidelines to front-line medical staff. Whenever there are patients being diagnosed with seasonal influenza infection and they are within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, they can be administered the medication (against influenza) so as to bring down the overall mortality from seasonal influenza. The Government has been maintaining an adequate stock of medication against influenza.

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

Ends/Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:50

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