Hong Kong concerned about crowding in hospitals
In response to the latest H1N1 flu cases, Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has expressed concern about crowding in public hospitals.
Health officials are expecting more people to fall sick this year because of the longer cold spell that the city is experiencing at the moment. It has warned the public that an upsurge in flu cases could mean longer waiting periods for non-emergency cases. The Centre for Health Protection also expects the flu season to peak in Hong Kong earlier than usual, late next month, so it is urging the public to get their flu jabs.
Right now, health officials are investigating whether an elderly woman who was vaccinated last month, has developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is an acute disorder in which the body damages its own nerve cells.
During the last major flu scare, the government ordered three million doses of swine flu vaccine in late 2009 – enough for almost half the city’s population.