Flu outbreak shows importance of giving up smoking
25 May 2009
The Department of Health said on Monday the outbreak of human swine influenza had reiterated the need for Hong Kong people to give up smoking.
A department spokesman urged smokers to quit the habit – saying this would be one of the best “preventive measures” against influenza.
Currently, health experts internationally are battling to stop the spread of human swine influenza – also known as H1N1.
World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun has warned countries to brace for more serious infections and deaths from the H1N1 flu virus she has said was “subtle” and “sneaky”.
Asia has not yet reported any deaths from swine flu – but the outbreak has rekindled painful memories of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome virus that hit the mainland and Hong Kong, and killed 774.
Health officials on Sunday confirmed the seventh case of swine flu in Hong Kong – a 21-year-old woman who arrived from the US via Seoul.
The woman is now in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital and in stable condition, the Centre for Health Protection said.
The Department of Health spokesman said smokers were at a higher risk than non-smokers from getting H1N1.
“Research studies show a higher risk of influenza infections among smokers when compared with non-smokers,” the spokesman said.
Also, the mortality rate of influenza among smokers is higher than that of non-smokers,” he said.
Adopting a healthy lifestyles and maintaining good personal hygiene were obviously also effective ways to prevent influenza, the spokesman added.
The Department of Health has announced that from Wednesday it would launch a series of “smoking cessation roving exhibitions” in various districts.
“This is to strengthen public awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and enhance their knowledge of how to quit smoking,” the spokesman said.
“Visitors to the exhibition will get a better understanding of the perils of smoking and second-hand smoke, effective ways to quit smoking as well as tips and available channels for quitting smoking,” he added.
Research by the University of Hong Kong has estimated that 7,000 Hongkongers die from active or passive smoking each year.
The total cost to the community, taking into account pain, suffering and lives lost, has been put in excess of HK$70 billion per year.
Passive smoking in the workplace causes around 800 deaths a year in the territory and costs HK$600 million in healthcare and lost productivity, researchers estimate.
According to researchers from the University of Hong Kong’s tobacco control research and policy unit, the victims die from lung cancer, chronic lung disease, heart disease and strokes.
Recently, Hong Kong has been taking a much tougher stance against smoking. The price of tobacco was increased in the 2009 budget. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah in February announced an increase in tobacco duty by 50 per cent “with immediate effect” – saying it was needed for public health reasons.
Since January 1, 2007, the majority of indoor areas of workplaces and public places, such as restaurants, offices, schools, hospitals, markets, karaoke lounges and bars are required to ban smoking.
Six types of “qualified establishments”, namely nightclubs, commercial bathhouses, massage establishments, mahjong parlors, designated mahjong rooms in clubs and certain bars, may implement the smoking ban by July 1, 2009.
1 comment:
Flu outbreak shows importance of giving up smoking
25 May 2009
The Department of Health said on Monday the outbreak of human swine influenza had reiterated the need for Hong Kong people to give up smoking.
A department spokesman urged smokers to quit the habit – saying this would be one of the best “preventive measures” against influenza.
Currently, health experts internationally are battling to stop the spread of human swine influenza – also known as H1N1.
World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun has warned countries to brace for more serious infections and deaths from the H1N1 flu virus she has said was “subtle” and “sneaky”.
Asia has not yet reported any deaths from swine flu – but the outbreak has rekindled painful memories of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome virus that hit the mainland and Hong Kong, and killed 774.
Health officials on Sunday confirmed the seventh case of swine flu in Hong Kong – a 21-year-old woman who arrived from the US via Seoul.
The woman is now in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital and in stable condition, the Centre for Health Protection said.
The Department of Health spokesman said smokers were at a higher risk than non-smokers from getting H1N1.
“Research studies show a higher risk of influenza infections among smokers when compared with non-smokers,” the spokesman said.
Also, the mortality rate of influenza among smokers is higher than that of non-smokers,” he said.
Adopting a healthy lifestyles and maintaining good personal hygiene were obviously also effective ways to prevent influenza, the spokesman added.
The Department of Health has announced that from Wednesday it would launch a series of “smoking cessation roving exhibitions” in various districts.
“This is to strengthen public awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and enhance their knowledge of how to quit smoking,” the spokesman said.
“Visitors to the exhibition will get a better understanding of the perils of smoking and second-hand smoke, effective ways to quit smoking as well as tips and available channels for quitting smoking,” he added.
Research by the University of Hong Kong has estimated that 7,000 Hongkongers die from active or passive smoking each year.
The total cost to the community, taking into account pain, suffering and lives lost, has been put in excess of HK$70 billion per year.
Passive smoking in the workplace causes around 800 deaths a year in the territory and costs HK$600 million in healthcare and lost productivity, researchers estimate.
According to researchers from the University of Hong Kong’s tobacco control research and policy unit, the victims die from lung cancer, chronic lung disease, heart disease and strokes.
Recently, Hong Kong has been taking a much tougher stance against smoking. The price of tobacco was increased in the 2009 budget. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah in February announced an increase in tobacco duty by 50 per cent “with immediate effect” – saying it was needed for public health reasons.
Since January 1, 2007, the majority of indoor areas of workplaces and public places, such as restaurants, offices, schools, hospitals, markets, karaoke lounges and bars are required to ban smoking.
Six types of “qualified establishments”, namely nightclubs, commercial bathhouses, massage establishments, mahjong parlors, designated mahjong rooms in clubs and certain bars, may implement the smoking ban by July 1, 2009.
Post a Comment