Medical organisations and politicians in Hong Kong, Macau and other parts of Asia have issued a joint appeal to take preventive steps against the spread of influenza across the continent, with a local expert calling on residents to get vaccinated early.
Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah, president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, said on Sunday that influenza was spreading not only in Hong Kong, but in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Singapore.
“After the Covid-19 pandemic, the timings of flu outbreaks have changed. We should act smart according to the change in the influenza virus and climate,” he added, calling on residents to get vaccinated early.
Kwan’s society joined 22 other local, Macanese, Indonesian and regional medical groups and politicians in issuing the joint appeal on Sunday.
They urged parents, children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, the elderly and carers to follow guidelines on how to avoid catching the flu and tackling its impact.
Such measures include checking children’s temperature every four hours, maintaining good personal and home hygiene and living a healthy lifestyle by eating sensibly and getting good rest.
