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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme today (January 23):
Reporter: (On seasonal influenza and medical incidents.)
Secretary for Food and Health: As far as the first question is concerned, we have been looking at the statistics from 2012 to now. Broadly speaking, the projected figure of the first three weeks of this influenza season is comparable to that in 2012. However, in the past few days, there were reports of a more drastic increase in the number of patients requiring intensive care. If this trend is going to continue, we might then expect a particular high peak in this season. I am more concerned about the capacity of the Accident and Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units in public hospitals. We will be liaising with the Hospital Authority (HA) to make sure that they have the measures in hand to address the situation. For individual citizens, it is more important to look at how to prevent or minimise the risk of contracting the illness. This must be done through healthy lifestyle and emphasis in personal hygiene and hand washing. We also advise people to take influenza vaccination. Although the protection rate of the vaccine being used this year is apparently lower than that in past years, experts are of the opinion that having vaccination is still better than not.
Regarding the medical incidents reported by the HA, I think this is the sentinel system report which serves as an alert to the HA or the hospitals concerned to review their own procedures in order to minimise the risk to patients.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, January 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:04
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