Hong Kong woman shares battle with Influenza A in Japan

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, known as "Big S," passed away at the age of 48 after contracting the flu during a family trip to Japan for the New Year. Her death has triggered widespread reactions globally. Similarly, a Hong Kong woman recently shared her experience of falling ill in Japan on her personal YouTube channel. 

She recounted contracting influenza A for the first time, initially without any discomfort but gradually developing a persistent cough.

During a day out, she began experiencing more severe symptoms and felt feverish and chilled while dining out, prompting her to return home immediately. Once home, she experienced extreme fatigue and, after checking her temperature, discovered she had a fever of 38.4 degrees Celsius. Despite taking medication and hoping a night's sleep would suffice, her condition did not improve.

Persisting symptoms led her to take more medicine, and it seemed like her health got better, with her temperature briefly dropping to 37.6 degrees Celsius before worsening again. Eventually, she suspected she had caught the widespread Japanese flu and sought medical attention. Due to the high demand, she had to visit a clinic in a remote village.

At the clinic, despite the crowd, consultations were quick as most patients exhibited similar flu symptoms, allowing for swift diagnoses. After waiting for an hour, she was isolated and tested by a nurse, who confirmed the influenza A diagnosis and prescribed a series of medications.

Despite treatment, her symptoms lingered, though her fever subsided. Local news media reported that coughs from this strain of flu could persist for over a month. She learned that recovery would take about five days, during which doctors advised against going outside to prevent spreading the virus.

She concluded by urging anyone with a body temperature over 38 degrees Celsius to seek medical attention promptly due to the risk of flu.