Society

A/H1N1 patients make up 90% of all HK flu cases

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-09 19:23

HONG KONG - The patients infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus in Hong Kong account for about 90 percent of the total influenza patients recently, said York Chow, secretary of the Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Chow told the media Wednesday morning that the affected patients are ranging from the babies to the seventies. Chow estimated that the flu peak may not end until the middle of March.

Chow suggested the Hong Kong citizens as well as the medical staff take the influenza vaccines, saying the government has plenty of vaccine supply.

As to whether the schools will suspend classes because of the flu outbreak, Chow said it depends on how severe the situation will be at schools. He said the government will persuade the schools to suspend classes if they suffer severe epidemic.

In the past 15 days, there have been 48 patients admitted to the intensive care units in Hong Kong's hospitals, including 28 male patients and 20 female ones, Chow said, citing statistics. Among the 48 cases, 9 were flu-related death.