Hong Kong May See Earlier Summer Flu Season Peak
Quick Look
- Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection anticipates an earlier summer flu season, with a potential peak in late June or July.
- This is due to increased influenza activity since May and the absence of a typical winter flu season, which may lead to lower public immunity and higher transmission rates.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Hong Kong typically experiences a summer flu season between July and August and a winter flu season in the first quarter of the year. This year, the winter season was absent.
Hong Kong may enter its summer flu season earlier than usual this year, with a peak likely to occur later this month, health authorities have said, urging unvaccinated residents to receive jabs for protection.
Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said on Tuesday that influenza activity in the city had increased since May.
He noted that the last summer flu season extended from September to January, and with no winter flu season earlier this year, this summer’s flu season could arrive sooner.
“Looking at the trend that started in May, we cannot rule out the possibility that the peak might occur in late June or July,” he told a radio programme.
In Hong Kong, the summer flu season typically occurs between July and August, while the winter season usually occurs in the first quarter of each year, according to Tsui.
He said the absence of the winter flu season this year could also result in increased severity of flu cases during the summer.
“When there is a prolonged period of low flu activity and low public immunity, the peak transmission rate is actually high,” he said.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Summer flu season peak may occur in late June or July
Speculative · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will vaccination rates increase significantly?
- What is the expected severity of the flu cases?
