Hong Kong’s serious and deadly seasonal influenza outbreak continues with six additional fatalities reported during the past 24 hours, bring the death tally to 331. This is approximately 2.5 times the number of fatalities reported during last winter’s influenza season during the same time.
Since the beginning of the year, the city has reported 446 influenza-associated admission to intensive care units and deaths. This too is significantly higher than last year’s 266 cases.
However, one respiratory disease expert in China says that the Hong Kong outbreak may soon be over.
The head of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases at Guangzhou Medical University, Dr Zhong Nanshan predicted the outbreak will be over in about two months or less.
“The outbreak will probably peak in March … and may be over in April or May,” Zhong said.
427 of the 446 influenza-associated admission to intensive care units and deaths have been identified as H3N2 influenza.
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