2004-11-12
The Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today (November 12) urged members of the public to take precautionary measures against influenza.
The appeal was made by the Consultant in Community Medicine of CHP, Dr Thomas Tsang, on the second week of the Government Influenza Vaccination Programme (GIVP) starting since early November.
"We should start preparing ourselves against influenza now, as we expect the peak flu season to arrive in two to three month's time", Dr Tsang said.
CHP's sentinel surveillance showed that during the week ending November 6, consultation rates for influenza-like-illness in government out-patient clinics and general practitioners were 3.3 and 35 per 1 000 consultations. This was comparable to levels seen during previous years.
The GIVP provided vaccinations for three groups of people:
* People who are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to influenza infection,
* Health care staff of Hospital Authority and Department of Health, and
* Poultry workers and staff who may be involved in poultry culling operations.
Over 10 000 flu vaccinations have been delivered so far in November.
The current influenza vaccine used in Hong Kong is in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the northern hemisphere. Its composition is:
A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virus
B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus
Dr Tsang said the CHP has been monitoring new developments in influenza around the world. This includes an announcement made by the WHO in late September 2004 that recent influenza A H3N2 isolates were found to be more closely related to strains represented by A/Wellington/01/2004 than to the A/Fujian/411/2002 strain. Genetic information for characterization of the Wellington strain was made available to CHP in late October 2004.
"To see if the Wellington strain is present in Hong Kong, we conducted retrospective examination of the gene sequences of recent influenza isolates at the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch. We found that in 2004, some of the strains matched the characteristics of the Wellington strain," he said.
"The Wellington-like strain is a variant of the Fujian-like strain and both are H3N2 influenza viruses. Laboratory tests conducted by the WHO show that the current vaccine has cross protection against the Wellington strain. Therefore, the current flu vaccine will bring significant benefits to the target groups in protecting them against influenza," he said.
Influenza vaccine containing the Wellington strain is not expected to be available in the world market until next year. The CHP's Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases will review the situation and make appropriate vaccine recommendations.
Dr Tsang reminded members of the public to be on guard against influenza and other respiratory illnesses.
To prevent influenza, people are advised:
* To build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* To maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* To maintain good ventilation.
* To avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
Individuals particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should consult their doctors for medical advice promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.
End/Friday, November 12, 2004