Emergency room visits slightly increase, mostly due to upper respiratory infections
As residents of Hong Kong return from flu-affected areas like Japan and Singapore, experts anticipate that the city might face a peak in flu cases next month.
Dr. Axel Siu Yuet-chung, Chief of Service (Accident & Emergency), Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, states today (Dec. 31) that there has been a slight increase in the number of patients visiting the emergency room over the past week, with an average of over 5,000 visits per day.
Many of these cases are related to upper respiratory infections, including coughs and fevers, with some elderly or long-term patients experiencing more severe complications like asthma.
Dr. Siu notes that many hospital beds in emergency departments are being utilized at over 100% capacity. Neighboring countries and regions have reported H1N1 or H3N2 influenza outbreaks, raising concerns about potential pressure on Hong Kong's healthcare system.
He urges residents with mild symptoms to consider consulting private doctors or general outpatient clinics and emphasizes the importance of self-protection measures.
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