Hong Kong closes all primary schools in flu outbreak

The Hong Kong government closed all the territory’s primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, and day nurseries for two weeks on 13 March to try to minimise infection during the peak of the flu season and to calm the nerves of anxious parents. The government has not taken such a drastic public health measure since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, when all school classes were suspended for seven weeks.

Although Hong Kong is experiencing its expected seasonal peak for flu, two deaths have unexpectedly occurred. On 1 March a 3 year old girl died of respiratory causes and tested positive for influenza A …