P R E S S   R E L E A S E

        A recent study conducted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong reveals that flu and flu-like illnesses adversely affect workers' health and productivity at their workplace, resulting in disruption of daily activities and a loss of corporate earnings.  The possible economic loss could be as high as HK$31.3 billion per year.

        Titled "A Study on the Health and Productivity Impacts of Flu and Flu-like Illnesses", the study was conducted in May 2001 in cooperation with a sizeable company in Hong Kong to investigate the incidence of flu and flu-like illnesses and their impacts during the flu season (February to April 2001).  2,152 employees from the company participated in the survey.

        The purpose of the study is to understand the effects of flu and flu-like illnesses on the health of Hong Kong's working population as well as their family members and colleagues, and the extent to which flu and flu-like illnesses adversely affect labour productivity and the economy.

        "The incidence of flu and flu-like illnesses among individual corporations in Hong Kong and the economy have never been closely studied," said principal investigator Professor Kenneth Lee Kwing-chin, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, CUHK.  "Our study, the first large-scale study of its kind, is to assess the burdens these illnesses have placed on the well-being of the working population and our economy as a whole so that proper measures can be taken by both the public and private sectors to educate the public on the effects flu and flu-like illnesses, hence increases our global competitiveness."

        He also commented that many people misunderstand flu being a minor disease and therefore neglect the importance of early and proper treatment during its onset, when in fact it can cause serious health complications or even fatality.

        The study shows that, flu/flu-like illnesses are very common among local working population:

-    Around 60% of the survey respondents said they have contracted flu/flu-like illnesses during the past flu season (February to April 2001).
-    24% said they have contracted flu/flu-like illnesses at least twice during the past flu season.
-    Almost 30% said they had to take sick leave because of flu/flu-like illnesses and, among those who took sick leave, 26% said they had to take at least three days off due to flu/flu-like illnesses.
-    24% of the respondents said they have infected their family members and colleagues with flu/flu-like illnesses.

        The study also indicated that flu and flu-like illnesses adversely affect individuals’ work performance as well as daily lives:

-    Over 80% of the respondents who had moderate to severe flu/flu-like symptoms said their illness has impacted both their work performance and daily lives during the onset of flu/flu-like illness.
-    Five to seven days after the onset of flu/flu-like illnesses, still more than 40% of the respondents said their illness was affecting their work performance and daily lives.
-    Only 58% of the respondents with severe flu/flu-like symptoms sought medical consultation.

        Investigators then projected on the effects of flu and flu-like illnesses have caused to Hong Kong's economy:

-    A loss of 8.8 "days of perfect health" for each worker on average each year.
-    A loss of up to HKS31.3 billion of economic output each year.

        "Diseases such as flu have caused billions of dollars each year in terms of productivity loss," said Professor Sunny Kwong Kai-sun, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, CUHK.  "The impact is even greater during an economic downturn when job cuts are imminent and only core workers are retained --a loss or reduction of labor productivity would only afflict the already suffering economy."

        Early and proper treatment/medication, education and improvement on working conditions are urged for minimizing the adverse effects flu and flu-like illnesses have on individual workers, their employers and the economy.

        "Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world compounded with the problem of air pollution," said Professor Thomas Chan Yan-keung, Professor and Consultant Physician at the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, CUHK.  "As such, people with inadequate amount of sleep or rest who work in high risk environment such as poorly ventilated or crowded areas should pay special attention to their health, particularly during the flu seasons."

        Moreover, Professor Chan urged the public to be informed of the treatment options and preventive measures of flu and flu-like illnesses and employees with more severe flu or flu-like symptoms should seek early medical advice and proper medication to avoid further complications.

        "More public education is needed in order to provide the community with the correct and relevant information regarding flu and flu-like illnesses, proper diagnosis and treatment options," said Dr. Joseph Lau, director of the Centre for Clinical Trials & Epidemiological Research, CUHK.  "It is through education that the public, including both employees and their employers, be properly informed of the fact of the disease, thereby reduces the impact of the disease in the long run."