Doctor explains how to recognize early symptoms of Hong Kong flu

Tengrinews.kz – The Hong Kong flu can be identified by a rapid onset of infection accompanied by a high fever and chills, medical expert Svetlana Vakhrusheva told RIA News.

“The symptoms of Hong Kong flu are not fundamentally different from other types of influenza: a sudden onset with a temperature above 38°C, chills, muscle and joint aches, severe headache, pain when moving the eyes, and a possible dry cough,” said Vakhrusheva, who holds a PhD in medicine.

Earlier, doctor Elena Khegay explained that Hong Kong flu (H3N2) is one of the seasonal influenza strains that circulates worldwide year after year. This strain carries a slightly higher risk of complications for people in high-risk groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, and patients with chronic illnesses.

The H3N2 strain is historically known for its severity. The first Hong Kong flu pandemic, which occurred between 1968 and 1970, claimed between 1 and 4 million lives worldwide, according to various estimates.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova previously noted that following simple preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of infection. These include limiting visits to crowded places, regularly ventilating indoor spaces, using antiseptics or disinfectant wipes for hand hygiene, and keeping children at home — rather than sending them to schools or kindergartens — if they show symptoms of acute respiratory infections or flu.

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