A paediatric infectious diseases expert warned on Saturday that colder weather could prolong the current flu season and lead to more critical cases in children, RTHK reported. Mike Kwan, president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, said that if infection numbers stay high, critical cases will rise in tandem.
Kwan said he worries the current flu season will "merge with the winter flu season" as the weather gets colder. That would mean a very long period of flu infection, and he fears more paediatric critical cases or even deaths.
What the warning means for children and parents
- The concern is for children: Kwan fears a longer flu period could bring more critical paediatric cases, and possibly deaths.
- His worry is tied to colder weather and the approach of winter, combined with infection numbers that are currently high.
- The report gives no case counts, end dates or official agency guidance, so this is one expert's warning rather than a policy change.
Flu vaccine advice from the expert
- Vaccinate children who have not yet had this season's influenza vaccine as soon as possible, Kwan advises.