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■在流感高峰期，伊院急症室人滿為患。資料圖片
■陳威雄 青年民建聯副主席、民建聯財經及教育事務副發言人
今年爆發主要流感型別均以A型流感（H3N2）為主， 香港整體流感疫情持續，截至2月10日，死亡人數增至157人。醫管局轄下各聯網醫院將總共再增加200多張病床，亦會增加招聘醫護人手，應付求診人數。食物及衛生局局長高永文表示，由於流感病毒經常出現基因轉變，故現時所使用的流感疫苗保護率只有20%。不過，他認為有關疫苗仍有一定保護性，呼籲市民接種流感疫苗。對於是否強制醫護人員注射疫苗，我們應相信醫護人員本身有足夠的專業認知及判斷，應該尊重他們接受接種與否的決定，而非強制執行。請見下文：
The flu epidemic（流感疫情）is hitting Hong Kong hard this year that has claimed hundred lives so far and put our public healthcare system under much strain. Epidemic means a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease （傳染病）in a large number of people in a given population at a particular period of time. In this flu season, the very young and very old are the most susceptible（易受影響）to potentially deadly symptoms（症狀）of the flu, as are people with chronic medical conditions （慢性疾病）.Mr Ko Wing Man, Food and Health Secretary of HKSAR, said on the weekend that this year's flu strain could cross paths with the H7N9 bird flu in mainland which could cause a gene re-assortment （基因轉變）. The vaccine is effective against less than 20% of the flu strains to hit us this year. The public healthcare system is creaking under the pressure (壓力) as Hospital Authority said that the 16 public hospitals with A&E facilities to treat flu cases are operating at an average occupancy rate of 110%.
應留意醫院空間夠否
個別聯網醫院亦因為「爆滿」，而需要借用其他專科床位，或借調病床。筆者認為，聯網醫院亦應要留意空間是否足夠，會否太擠迫，以及相關的醫護人手能否應付，不然，疫情最終有可能在院內失控。In short, if you have a fever, chills, a stuffy nose and sore throat, chances are you have the flu. Medical officers suggest you should go to your doctor if you suspect this is the case. （大家應注意個人衛生、接種疫苗，以及當有病徵時要盡快求診。）
隔星期五見報
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