Hong Kong Government Grants HK$50 Million to a Study on Reducing Spread of Virus and Improving Immunity
Winter flu causes panic in Hong Kong as the number of affected people trumps those of last year. The numbers peaked in January 2019, severely impacting children and the elderly and, in some cases, even resulting in death.
Among the various efforts of the Hong Kong government to address the issue at hand is the allocation of financial assistance to a five-year study that aims to tap into ways that could boost individuals’ immunity to influenza and, thereby, reduce its transmission.
This study that will directly address healthcare issues caused by the flu, has received HK$50 million from the government – the largest amount to be received by any university research project in 2019.
The study will be lead by Benjamin Cowling, Professor at the University of Hong Kong. The professor acknowledged prevalence of the influenza epidemic in Hong Kong over the years and remarked how reasons for its varying frequency are still unknown.
The study, therefore, is aimed at uncovering more advanced signs and methods to predict the next occurrence of the flu so that preparations can be made accordingly.
Earlier this year, Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) revealed that the winter flu would lead to abrupt closing of childcare centers and cancelation of primary school classes for 7-consecutive days to avoid the spread of the illness.
The funded study will attempt to research past trends on the speed and frequency of the spread of influenza in Hong Kong. It will use a comprehensive methodology to make predictions about the nature and intensity of the winter flu during, and before, the outbreak of the epidemic.
In an attempt to make these predictions, the study will formulate a platform to gather data that documents the impact of the severity of influenza on the immune responses of individuals. This is meant to help in establishing a sense of how the immune system responds to influenza before, during and after the flu infects a person. The data will also assist in developing an understanding of individuals had different responses to influenza vaccination over the years.
It is expected that the results of the research project financed by the government will play a significant role in determining what control measures can be adopted by the authorities in Hong Kong. These control measures could then be used to cater to the consequences of the influenza epidemic – i.e. over-crowding in hospitals and temporary closure of primary schools and childcare centers.