*************************
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning (January 23):
Reporter: (On the situation of seasonal influenza.)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Government is very concerned about the prevalence of seasonal influenza in winter. We noticed that the circulation of influenza (H1N1) strain has increased to more than 40 per cent. The mortality rate of H1N1 in some other places, such as the United States, has also increased when compared with the figures in 2009. The situation of the winter influenza has imposed an increased pressure on the local public hospital system. As a preventive safeguard, I would like to advise and appeal to the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle and pay more attention to their personal hygiene, so as to lower the chance of getting infected with seasonal influenza. On the other hand, the Hospital Authority has already announced a series of measures to cope with the situation in the public hospital system.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, January 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:15
NNNN
