A Hong Kong family doctor, Lam Wing-wo, a member of the Department of Health's scientific committee on vaccine-preventable diseases, predicts a seasonal flu outbreak in Hong Kong around the New Year or early January. He's reported a significant increase in flu cases this week, possibly linked to Hong Kong residents returning from overseas Christmas trips. Children and the elderly are predominantly affected, with a concurrent rise in acute gastroenteritis cases attributed to respiratory syncytial virus and food poisoning. Dr. Lam cautions that rapid tests may be unreliable for rhinovirus detection and advises seeking immediate medical attention if children exhibit asthma symptoms. Despite widespread mask-wearing in popular travel destinations like Japan, infections persist in enclosed spaces.
Flu-like illness reports surged from 9.03 cases per sentinel site to 19.06 by mid-December, exceeding the baseline of 1.00. While Dr. Lam hasn't observed a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in his practice, official figures show a slight uptick, including a recent outbreak affecting four residents of an elderly care home. The health center urges strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Dr. Lam worries that upcoming holiday gatherings could exacerbate the situation and urges high-risk individuals to get vaccinated immediately.