Warning over mould and infections as Hong Kong set for more damp days

Foggy and humid weather at the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui earlier this month.

In the week from Thursday onwards, relative humidity will range between 65 per cent and 95 per cent, according to the weather forecaster.

Photo: Sam Tsang Elderly Hongkongers and people with chronic illnesses should protect themselves from illnesses arising from high humidity by using dehumidifiers and removing mould, a doctor and a community advocate have said, as damp conditions are expected to persist until the end of the week.

They said the public should be better informed about the health risks posed by the damp weather, cautioning that high moisture encouraged mould that could cause breathing difficulties in asthmatics, while humid and hot conditions could also trigger skin conditions and fungal infections.

As winter gives way to spring, the Observatory said a humid airstream would affect the eastern coast of mainland China’s Guangdong province over the coming days, making the weather more damp in the morning and late at night.

In the week from Thursday onwards, relative humidity will range between 65 per cent and 95 per cent, according to the forecaster.

Some parts of Hong Kong saw relative humidity levels hit 100 per cent in the early hours on Wednesday, including at Kau Sai Chau off the coast of Sai Kung.

More urban parts of the city, including Kowloon City and Wong Chuk Hang, also saw relative humidity levels creep up to 98 per cent in the early hours on Wednesday.

Humidity in Hong Kong begins to climb in March and April before peaking over the summer months alongside higher temperatures.

Moisture forms under a bridge in Tseung Kwan O waterfront park.

The moist, hot weather can trigger skin conditions and fungal infections, Dr Sunny Luk says.

Photo: Eugene Lee According to the Centre for Health Protection, exposure to extreme heat and humidity without relief or enough fluid intake can lead to various heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, while also worsening chronic conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Sunny Luk Wai-leung, president of the Hong Kong Doctors Union, explained that people over the age of 70, especially those with chronic conditions such as asthma, were particularly at risk.

Aside from higher temperatures, which could lead to heatstroke, humidity could also create mould, Luk said.

He warned that the spores could trigger breathing problems in asthmatics.

The moist, hot weather could also trigger skin conditions

原文链接: 南华早报