The head of Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) said Thursday (Feb 10) that he expected the city's current flu season which has sent over 60 people into intensive care units will last a few more weeks.
Speaking at a press conference, CHP Controller Thomas Tsang said Hong Kong installed on Jan. 24 a new surveillance mechanism that requires hospitals across the city to report each case of flu- associated ICU admission and death as they occur.
According to Tsang, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 9, a total of 61 flu patients have been put into intensive care units and nine of them died.
Latest statistics by the CHP showed that for every 1,000 patients who seek medical treatment from private doctors, over 70 have flu symptoms.
In terms of hospitalization, five out of 10,000 flu patients from the 0-4 age group have to be hospitalized this year, which represent a higher percentage than last year's. Meanwhile, the situation for those above 65 years old are roughly the same with that of last year.
Tsang noted that though present flu activity has not reached the level of September 2009 when the A/H1N1 flu was at its peak, the CHP will continue to watch closely the development of the situation.
Hong Kong reported on Thursday two more critical cases of confirmed A/H1N1 flu. As of 2 p.m. local time (0600 GMT), a total of 39 A/H1N1 flu patients are still under intensive care.
