Remember to wash your hands!I am really worried about the number of people who have died of the flu virus. It's particularly worrying that they expect the death toll to keep rising until March.
It is frustrating that the government doesn't seem to be doing much to remind people how important hygiene is.
People should take the virus seriously, especially the elderly. Most of the people who have died from the flu have been old.
People should wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet, and cover their mouth when they sneeze or cough. If people find themselves coughing a lot, they should wear a mask to stop germs spreading.
Having a healthy, balanced lifestyle is the best way to fight disease. But if you do end up getting sick, go and see the doctor as soon as possible.
Wong Yiu-ting, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Yiu-ting. While this year's flu toll is one of the worst we have seen in a long time, in Hong Kong, we don't need to panic. We don't need to all go around wearing masks as they have been proven to be largely ineffective. Most of the people who have died from this flu have been elderly and frail. However, we need to always be careful about washing our hands.
People think washing their hands is not important, but it is. Before you eat, as you mentioned, and after you use the toilet are good times. But the minute you change environment, you also need to wash. As soon as you get to school, wash your hands, as soon as you get home, wash your hands. We have to all get into that habit as that is by far the best way to stop any disease spreading.
Susan, Editor