Hong Kong Flu Scare Closes Schools
Schools in Hong Kong will be closed until March 28 in order to avert the further spread of influenza that has claimed the lives of four children thus far. The closings affect all nurseries, kindergartens, and primary schools.
Two of the children who died from flu-like, respiratory symptoms tested positive for Influenza A, also identified as H1N1. The other two children suffered from similar symptoms.
On Wednesday, flu-like illnesses affecting 184 people in 23 schools were reported to Hong Kong health authorities.
On Thursday, 50 new health reports were filed. These reports included 305 new cases which involved 27 primary schools and 16 pre-school facilities.
Local health authorities are quick to warn that this flu epidemic seems no more virulent than usual and is not significant enough to officially alert the World Health Organization (WHO), although the organization was informed. Officials cite the international health scare generated by the SARS outbreak five years ago as their reason for closing the schools as a precautionary measure.
In 2003, an epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) killed nearly 300 people in Hong Kong. SARS is a virus that produces symptoms similar to pneumonia.
Speaking on behalf of the WHO, Peter Cordingley, praised the school closings in Hong Kong. Describing the current situation as a nasty seasonal occurrence, he says it is not a threat to global public health and is neither SARS nor bird-flu related.
The incubation period for influenza is roughly one week. By closing Hong Kong schools for twice that length of time, officials hope to eliminate all possibility of spreading the epidemic.
- Are you concerned about a flu epidemic occurring in your country?
- What can be done to prevent the flu from spreading?
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wash hands often, get the flu vaccine before season starts, avoid crowded places
Washing your hands may help but you need to build your immune system by eating right and taking care of your body, something that China is not very good at…
I live in Beijing and have traveled in China and HongKong. According to my doctor the flu vaccine this year did not include this particular strain of influenza. People who had the vaccine are still getting this flu.
As far as David’s comments, he obviously hasn’t been to China. Most Chinese that I know, except for the very poor or homeless, eat right, are careful to eat healthy and even organic foods and take care of their bodies as well as most Westerners. For example, low levels of obesity as opposed to most places I’ve lived in the states.
You really can’t make generalities about China, especially now since the rate of change and development makes most “conventional wisdom” dated.