Health chief says not to panic amid infection rise
Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau on Saturday asked people not to panic amid the rise of respiratory infections in Hong Kong.  Speaking to reporters, the health chief said there are no vaccines for diseases like mycoplasma, but the government is well-prepared to handle more infections. When asked about suggestions from experts on screening arrangements for inbound travellers at the border, Lo said the authorities would not impose any mandatory measures. "No matter the flu, Covid or mycoplasma, these are known diseases and they already exist in our community. It's not surprising to find travellers having such infections. For known diseases, we won't impose any mandatory measures like quarantine requirements," he said. He added that experts made those suggestions to look for unknown diseases, but the government has to consider the impact the measures would have on the community and internationally. Meanwhile, public health adviser David Hui said he expects the number of mycoplasma cases to keep increasing, with children being most susceptible to developing symptoms. "This year, since August, there's been an upward trend in mycoplasma infections. Most children actually have upper respiratory symptoms like fever and sore throat. Only about five to ten percent would develop pneumonia," he told a radio programme. "If you notice your child having shortness of breath, you should bring your child to casualty as soon as possible." Professor Hui added that the number of respiratory infections and Covid cases in Hong Kong may also increase as the temperature drops, urging people to get vaccinated and wear a mask in crowded places.