Hong Kong records 88 flu deaths in first weeks of winter influenza season

Hong Kong has recorded 88 flu deaths since the current influenza season began early this month, up by nearly 30 per cent from the 68 fatalities in the same period during last winter’s surge, according to the latest figures released by the Centre for Health Protection.

The health minister on Friday urged hospitals and clinics to help promote flu shots and said a recent decision to publish a list of schools that did not take part in a voluntary inoculation campaign was the right decision.

The winter flu season began on January 5, and experts have warned that the worst is yet to come as the peak is forecast to occur in February.

According to the centre’s weekly flu surveillance report published on Thursday, 65 adults with flu were admitted to intensive care units last week.

“Among the 65 adult cases, 45 were not known to have received the 2024-25 seasonal influenza vaccine,” the report said.

Fourteen cases were recorded during the first two days of this week, with 10 being fatal.