Be Wary Of Peak Flu Season Ahead: Expert

A top microbiologist on Friday warned that the peak of the current flu season is yet to come and said those who are in a high-risk category should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Ho Pak Leung, who heads the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Infection, said that during the coming Lunar New Year holiday, the flow of visitors will add to the crowds in popular places and people going out to celebrate should wear masks as a precaution.

Ho also said that suspending schools to curtail a flu epidemic reflected a failure in Hong Kong's primary healthcare system.

On Thursday, health officials announced that kindergartens and childcare centres would close from Saturday for the Lunar New Year holiday – a week ahead of schedule – to help prevent the further spread of flu.

He said the government should have made the call earlier.

Ho said in making such a decision the administration should not just consider the number of flu cases, but also the overcrowding situation at public hospitals.

According to the latest figures, the overall occupancy rate of public hospital beds stood at 108 percent. Tuen Mun Hospital was the worst, at 117 percent, followed by Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

Ho told RTHK’s Janice Wong that that in the long-term, suspending classes during the flu season is not desirable.

"I think there’s a need for us to rethink how we should implement a better primary healthcare system, in particular how to vaccinate children attending kindergartens and primary schools," he said.

The microbiologist urged the government to consider expanding a pilot scheme, in which medical staff go into primary schools to vaccinate students, to also cover kindergartens and daycare centres.