Influenza causes nine more deaths in HK

Hong Kong authorities reported Thursday that from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, nine adults died because of influenza in the city, bringing the death toll to 370 in 2015.

The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of Hong Kong's Department of Health said from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, 14 additional cases of influenza-associated admission to intensive care units or death (including eight deaths) among adults aged 18 or above had been recorded under enhanced surveillance in collaboration with public and private hospitals reactivated since Jan. 2 and an additional death was recorded among previously reported cases, bringing the total number of cases of influenza- associated admission to intensive care units to 496 (370 deaths) so far.

CHP added, among the 496 cases, 471 were A(H3N2), six were A( H1N1)pdm09, seven were A pending subtype and 12 were B. In the last winter season in early 2014, 266 cases (133 deaths) were filed.

The report said from March 1 to 7, 57 cases (44 deaths) were recorded. Separately, a daily average of 6.7 cases (5.3 deaths) were filed in the last seven days (from March 5 to 11), compared with 8.3 cases (5.9 deaths) in the preceding seven days (from Feb. 26 to March 4). "Meanwhile, no additional cases of severe paediatric influenza- associated complication or death among children aged under 18 have been reported since Wednesday via the ongoing reporting system and the total this year remains at 18 (one death) and all were A(H3N2). In 2014, 27 cases (four deaths) were file,"it added.