The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health on Thursday announced the conclusion of the summer influenza season and urged the public, especially high-risk groups, to get vaccinated in preparation for an anticipated winter wave.
Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the CHP, stated that the summer flu season, which started in September, reached its peak in October and has since steadily declined.
Latest data showed that the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses dropped to 4.08 percent last week, while the influenza-related admission rate in public hospitals fell to 0.23 per 10,000 people.
With both indicators below baseline thresholds, the center officially confirmed the end of the summer influenza period.
The season lasted about four months and began later than in previous years, the center added.
The dominant strain was influenza A (H3), with 25 severe pediatric cases recorded, including three deaths among children aged six months to 17 years; 80 percent of these children had not received the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Among adults, there were 507 severe cases, including 342 fatalities, with around 80 percent affecting those aged 65 or older, and over 70 percent of these elderly patients unvaccinated.
Tsui noted that the end of the summer season means no overlap with the upcoming winter one.
However, as temperatures are expected to drop in the coming months, he warned that flu activity is likely to rise again.
He strongly advised the public—particularly pregnant women, the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses—to get vaccinated promptly.
Although there are some antigenic differences between the circulating influenza A (H3) strain and the vaccine strain, Tsui emphasized that the vaccine still offers effective protection against variants.
He pointed out that last year's influenza season arrived early, and current activity in the United States remains elevated, with around 11 million infections, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths reported so far.
In comparison, flu activity has recently declined in mainland China, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan.
