Press Releases

SFH on seasonal flu and online food sale

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme today (March 2):

Reporter: Can you compare the flu season this year to last year and the licensing system for online food selling?

Secretary for Food and Health: I am very concerned about the situation of seasonal influenza this year. The flu season of this year started roughly one month later than that of last year. Because of the difference between the circulating strains of influenza viruses, which was H3N2 last year and H1N1 this year, the most affected groups are also different. Last year, the elderly people, particularly those with chronic illness, were affected most. This year, it was the children who were affected most. Generally, the observation is that the severity of flu infection this year, at least up to this stage, is less than the situation of the last flu season. But we need to wait for further analysis of the data if we want to make an overall comparison between this year and last year.

About the purchase of food through the web, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has introduced in the past few weeks a new mechanism for licensing of online food selling. Up to today, I know that there are already 60 applications being processed. I hope that this mechanism could help, ensuring the safety of food for sale via Internet.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:43

NNNN