HONG KONG: The onset of a serious outbreak of A (H1N1) flu might put 42,000 people in hospital, said a top official of the Hospital Authority yesterday.

Hospital Authority Director (quality and safety) Leung Pak-yin told a special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services the figure was based on World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at the maximum 30 percent of the population could contract the H1N1 flu in a local outbreak.

He said about 2 million people might catch the virus with up to 42,000 requiring hospitalization. He added the figures are considered the worst-case scenario if the virus should hit Hong Kong hard.

Leung said patients in the most serious condition would be admitted to hospitals first. Authorities might consider setting up district flu clinics in phases as the disease spread.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok advised people suffering chronic illness to avoid overseas tours as long as the virus remains rampant.

He also suggested those who are traveling abroad should purchase medical insurance.

For those studying abroad who get sick, Chow advised they should stay away from Hong Kong until they recovered or were properly diagnosed.

He said airline passengers who start feeling sick should put on face masks right away.

Chow said WHO would hold talks with pharmaceutical companies today on production of vaccines against A (H1N1) flu virus.

He said about 1,000 beds at camps would be ready for people who needed to be quarantined in case of an outbreak and more beds would be sourced if needed.

Chow said people experiencing close contact with patients of human swine flu had a 22 to 33 percent chance of becoming infected, based on WHO's latest assessment.

(HK Edition 05/14/2009 page1)