Hong Kong's next peak season for influenza may come earlier given the high number of infections in Europe and the US recently.

Department of Health Consultant Dr Thomas Tsang warned that it may arrive by the end of this month or early next year.

He said health authorities are very concerned over the outbreaks overseas and are keeping a close watch on developments as the Fujian-type virus afflicting Europe and the US could also be the main strain affecting Hong Kong this season.

Dr Tsang said that to protect those most vulnerable to the illness, the Advisory Committee on Immunisation as advised that the flu vaccination programme be extended from just homes for the elderly to also include those for the disabled.

Stepping up protection

Dr Tsang said it is up to parents to decide whether their children should receive flu vaccinations, as they are not a high-risk group.

However, to raise the awareness, a new website has been launched providing flu information and statistics. Dr Tsang urged people to be viligant against the disease.

Meanwhile, he said gene sequencing has confirmed that the H9N2 virus isolated from a five-year-old boy last week showed no human transmission was involved.