Hong Kong is experiencing a sharp rise in influenza cases, with over 6,000 people having sought emergency care on Jan 2 and a significant increase in influenza indicators. 

Experts predict that the peak is expected to occur before Chinese New Year, with a chance of a simultaneous outbreak of the H1N1 and H3N2 flu viruses.

Local flu cases experienced a major uptick after the long Christmas holiday period. The daily average number of first attendances at hospitals’ Accident and Emergency departments hit 5,627 between Dec 30, 2024, and Jan 5, peaking at 6,322 on Jan 2, according to the Hospital Authority.

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Hung Fan-ngai, chair professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, said on a local radio program on Saturday that the rise in local flu activity might partly be due to the increase in the number of holidaymakers returning from Japan, where low winter temperatures have made the virus more active than normal.

Indicators reveal that flu cases this season in Hong Kong are likely to exceed the threshold levels advised by the World Health Organization before long.

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As of Jan 2, the positive percentage of influenza detections among respiratory virus cases surged to 3.5 percent, with the threshold level set at 4.94 percent, while the admission rate of patients diagnosed with influenza in public hospitals also increased to 0.23 cases per 10,000 people, edging up to the reference point of 0.27.

Vaccines are known to be effective in combating viral infections, said Hung, with unvaccinated people more likely to suffer severe symptoms such as a persistently high temperature, while vaccinated people are generally less prone to becoming infected — or if they do become infected, their ailments are likely to be less severe.

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Hung also said that measures — in particular, the wearing of face masks outdoors — should be taken to ensure high-risk groups such as children and the elderly are protected.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com