The Center for Health Protection has announced that Hong Kong has entered the summer influenza season, given that the local seasonal influenza activity has steadily increased in the past week and exceeded the epidemic threshold. From the latest surveillance data, overall local seasonal influenza activity has increased since July.
The Hong Kong Government's official website reported that, among respiratory specimens, the percentage of the most recent weekly detection of testing positive for the seasonal influenza virus was 9,83% in the week ended 19 August. The virus that dominates the circulation is influenza A H3.
The overall admission rate with a primary diagnosis of influenza in a public hospital was 0,43 per 10.000 population in the same week. "There were seven outbreaks of influenza-like illness reported in the same week," said a Hong Kong health authority official.
As of 20 August, approximately 1,56 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccination have been administered through the Government Vaccination Program, Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, and School Outreach Program (Free) Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in 2022-2023, representing an increase of 25% over the previous period. the same in the previous year.
The influenza vaccination coverage rate for seniors aged 65 years and over is 48%, while for toddlers and adolescents aged six months to under 18 years is around 40%.
