Hong Kong's flu season, a perennial concern, may soon become a year-round virus due to a highly transmissible mutated strain and a cold snap. David Hui Shu-cheong, a renowned infectious disease expert, warns that the city's flu season could extend beyond its usual six-to-eight-week cycle. This is because the dominant H3N2 variant has undergone an 'antigenic drift,' involving seven mutations that enhance its transmissibility, potentially infecting 140 people for every 100 cases. The colder temperatures, expected to dip to as low as 13 degrees this week, naturally increase the virus's activity, creating conditions that could prolong transmission periods. As people retreat indoors, the lack of air circulation may further exacerbate the situation, affecting schools and elderly homes. This scenario raises the question: Could Hong Kong's flu season become a year-round phenomenon, requiring vaccines designed for both hemispheres?
