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The Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Leung Ting-hung, today (February 4) reported the latest surveillance data of the winter influenza season and again urged the public to heighten vigilance and get vaccinated early against seasonal influenza.
"The current influenza activity in Hong Kong is very high and may further increase in the coming weeks. In the upcoming Lunar New Year, the public should maintain strict personal hygiene both locally and during travel. Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs. Wear a mask when respiratory symptoms develop, especially when going to crowded places or attending festive gatherings. High-risk persons may wear masks against infections," Dr Leung said.
The CHP today issued letters to kindergartens (KGs), child care centres (CCCs) as well as primary and secondary schools on the latest influenza situation and additional measure on temperature monitoring. Schools should actively check the body temperature of all students every day to identify those with fever who should not be allowed to attend schools regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms. Staff should also check their temperature before work and those with respiratory illnesses or fever should refrain from work.
"Surveillance so far shows that severe and fatal influenza-associated cases in adults affected the elderly most. While vaccination remains an important means to prevent influenza with a certain degree of cross-protection against different but related strains, it also reduces disease severity, particularly for high-risk persons," Dr Leung added.
Local surveillance
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Regarding severe cases, from yesterday (February 3) noon to noon today, nine additional cases of influenza-associated admission to intensive care units or death (including seven deaths) among adults aged 18 or above have been recorded under the enhanced surveillance in collaboration with public and private hospitals reactivated since January 2. This brings the total number to 187 (118 deaths) so far this year. Among them, 175 were A(H3N2), five were B and seven were A pending subtype. In the last winter season in early 2014, 266 (133 deaths) were filed.
A total of 64 severe cases were recorded last week ending January 31, which was a record high after the highest weekly number (33 cases) recorded during influenza seasons since 2011.
Of note, in the 187 cases and 118 deaths above, 155 cases (82.9 per cent) and 108 deaths (91.5 per cent) involved elderly persons aged 65 or above. Senior citizens yet to be vaccinated should do so promptly as vaccination can reduce disease severity, hospitalisations and deaths, particularly for high-risk groups.
Besides, no additional cases of severe paediatric influenza-associated complication among children aged under 18 have been reported since yesterday via the ongoing reporting system. The total number this year hence remains at eleven (no deaths) and all were A(H3N2). In 2014, 27 (four deaths) were filed.
Among respiratory specimens received by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, the percentage that tested positive for influenza viruses was 35.92 per cent in the week ending January 24. Over 95 per cent of influenza virus detections were A(H3N2).
Regarding influenza-like illness (ILI), the number of institutional outbreaks reported to the CHP significantly rose from 55 (affecting 355 persons) in the week ending January 24 to 95 (514 persons) last week. As of yesterday, 23 (102 persons) had been recorded this week. The outbreaks in the past four weeks mainly occurred in primary schools (34.6 per cent), residential care homes for the elderly (33.2 per cent) and KGs or CCCs (11.7 per cent).
In addition, the ILI consultation rates reported by both sentinel general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) and private doctors remained high. In GOPCs, the rate further rose from 9.4 ILI cases per 1 000 consultations in the week ending January 24 to 10.0 last week, while that among private doctors was 61.1 last week as compared to 69.4 in the previous week.
The influenza-associated public hospital admission rate among children aged under five and elderly aged 65 or above was respectively 2.49 and 4.56 cases per 10 000 persons last week, compared with 2.92 and 3.79 respectively in the week earlier. That for elderly has remained at a high level, which is over those recorded in the past few years.
Situation of neighbouring and overseas areas
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The influenza activity in some overseas countries in the northern hemisphere has peaked and remained at a high level while that in the others remained elevating, with influenza A(H3N2) virus predominating so far.
According to overseas health authorities, the influenza season may have passed in North America. The percentage that tested positive for influenza viruses in the United States has peaked at 31.79 per cent in the last week of 2014 and dropped to 19.92 per cent in the week ending January 24. That in Canada also peaked at 34.6 per cent and then decreased to 27.4 per cent in the same period. The number of outbreaks of influenza A in long-term care facilities in Canada also recorded a peak of 152 in the week ending January 10 and then dropped to 54 two weeks later.
In England, the percentage that tested positive for influenza viruses has already reached a peak of 31.7 per cent in the first week of 2015 and decreased to 16.8 per cent in the week ending January 25.
On the contrary, the percentage that tested positive for influenza viruses in Taiwan increased to 21.9 per cent in the week ending January 17 from 14.5 per cent in the preceding one. In Japan, the influenza activity remained at a high level, with the average number of reported ILI cases per sentinel site further rose from 37.0 in the week ending January 18 to 39.42 in the next, far higher than the baseline level of 1.00.
The percentage that tested positive for influenza viruses in Europe also remained at a high level of 48 per cent in the week ending January 25, the same level as in the preceding one, which is over the threshold of 10 per cent.
Locally, as of February 1, about 234 000 and 226 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines have been administered to eligible groups under the Government Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Schemes 2014/15 respectively.
The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
* Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
* Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
* When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
* Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
* Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
* Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation;
* When influenza is prevalent, avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
* Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
The public may visit the CHP's pages below for more information:
* The influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/14843.html);
* The weekly Flu Express report (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/2108.html);
* The update on severe seasonal influenza cases (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/flu_update_en.pdf);
* The vaccination schemes page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/17980.html); and
* The list of participating doctors (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/34664.html).
Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:06
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