Hong Kong lawmakers are demanding the local health department detail contingency plans for an influx of patients amid this current flu season.

Concerns are being raised amid reports a virulent strain of influenza has claimed around 140 lives in recent weeks.

Certain hospitals in Hong Kong are running short of beds.

At the same time, there has been a run on face masks.

However, despite the concern, health officials in Hong Kong insist there is no need to panic.

Yuen Kwok-yung is the head of microbiology with the University of Hong Kong.

"The proportion of patients admitted to the ICU with severe influenza, although it's also high, but it's not extraordinarily high when compared with the past 10 or 20 years."

Despite calls for precautions ahead of the Spring Festival, city officials insist there is no need to bring in a Hong Kong-wide policy on wearing face masks.