Hong Kong health authorities declared Thursday that the summer influenza season has ended, while warning residents that the winter flu season is likely approaching as temperatures drop.
The Centre for Health Protection said influenza activity has declined in recent weeks and has fallen below baseline levels.
Controller Edwin Tsui told reporters the summer season began in early September, peaked in mid-to-late October and has now concluded without overlapping with the upcoming winter season.
In the most recent week, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses was 4.08%, below the baseline of 4.94%. The influenza-associated admission rate in public hospitals was 0.23 cases per 10,000 population, also under the baseline of 0.27 cases.
The summer season was dominated by influenza A and resulted in 25 severe pediatric cases, 507 severe adult cases and 342 deaths, most involving people who had not been vaccinated.
More than 1.91 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine have been administered so far this season, but vaccination coverage among children aged 6 months to under 2 years remains low at about 22%, the Department of Health said.
Authorities urged residents to receive the flu vaccine as soon as possible ahead of the winter season, particularly pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with chronic illnesses.
