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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after attending the spring reception of Heung Yee Kuk this morning (February 9):
Reporter: (on latest influenza situation)
Secretary for Food and Health: Like all the seasonal influenza, this season is particularly severe, mainly because 90 percent of the virus isolated is the swine flu H1N1 virus, which tends to have more serious complications with patients. Secondly, because of the resumption of school this week and also early next week, we expect there will be outbreaks in schools. We expect that there will be at least in terms of tens of schools that will have outbreaks every week. According to our statistics in the last two weeks, there are altogether 48 patients admitted to the intensive care units. Out of that, 60 percent of them have chronic illnesses such like diabetes, heart disease as well as asthma and so on. We would like to advise all the at-risk groups' patients to seek treatment as soon as possible when they have symptoms of influenza.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:50
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