Flu outbreak in HK not particularly severe: expert

A Hong Kong infectious disease expert said on Friday that the current flu outbreak is not particularly severe if compared with others over the past decade.

Leung Chi-chiu, chairman of the Medical Association's Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, said Hong Kong may be in the peak of the flu season now, and the situation could improve in a couple of weeks.

Most of the deaths were among the elderly or those with underlying conditions, he added.

There have been 126 flu-related deaths so far this year, according to official statistics.

On Thursday, Yuen Kwok-yung, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Hong Kong, warned that the death toll may further rise, but he insisted the situation was under control.

Yuen urged vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children and pregnant women, to wear masks when going out.