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Press Release

Latest update on surveillance data in winter influenza season

16 March 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 16) reported the latest surveillance data of the winter influenza season, and again urged the public to heighten vigilance and get vaccinated early against seasonal influenza.

Regarding severe cases, from noon yesterday (March 15) to noon today, six additional cases of influenza-associated admission to intensive care units or death (including four deaths) among adults aged 18 or above had been recorded under the enhanced surveillance in collaboration with public and private hospitals reactivated since January 2 and an additional death was recorded among previously reported cases, bringing the total to 514 (385 deaths) so far. Among them, 485 were A(H3N2), seven were A(H1N1)pdm09, eight were A pending subtype and 14 were B. In the last winter season in early 2014, 266 cases (133 deaths) were filed.

Last week (from March 8 to 14), 36 cases (29 deaths) were recorded. Separately, a daily average of 5.6 cases (4.3 deaths) were filed in the last seven days (from March 9 to 15), compared with 7.4 cases (6.1 deaths) in the preceding seven days (from March 2 to 8).

Meanwhile, no additional cases of severe paediatric influenza-associated complications or death among children aged under 18 have been reported since yesterday via the ongoing reporting system. The total this year remains 18 (one death) and all were A(H3N2). In 2014, 27 cases (four deaths) were filed.

Turning to influenza-like illness, seven institutional outbreaks (affecting 27 persons) were reported to the CHP in the last three days (from March 13 to 15) by residential care homes for the elderly (five outbreaks, 19 persons), a residential care home for the disabled (one outbreak, four persons) and a kindergarten (one outbreak, four persons).

The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:

The public may visit the CHP's pages below for more information:



Last Revision Date : 16 Mar 2015