Hong Kong : Wards overflow as hospitals feel strain from flu

Via The Standard, influenza in particularly H3 strain is gaining its momentum in Hong Kong :

" At least five public hospitals have seen occupancy hit 100 percent in some wards over the past seven days.

This comes as the Hospital Authority continues to monitor the influenza situation during the peak summer season.

The Prince of Wales Hospital was forced to close an orthopedic ward to contain an outbreak that saw four patients, aged 51 to 71, come down with flu since September 5.

One of the patients has been discharged while the others are in a stable condition after being moved to an isolation ward.

A spokesman for the authority said yesterday that in the past seven days, wards at hospitals have seen 100 percent occupancy rates on average.

"The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Princess Margaret, North District, Prince of Wales and Pok Oi hospitals exceeded 100 percent," he added.

The Centre for Health Protection said flu activity began to increase in July and has remained at a high level over the past few weeks."