Commonground
Senior Moderator
[emphasis is. mine]
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2025
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 20) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection. The CHP urged schools and parents to arrange for schoolchildren to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as it is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. Vaccination also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection.
The case involves a 2-year-old girl with good past health. She has developed a fever and convulsion since yesterday (October 19). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital today and was admitted for treatment. She is currently in serious condition. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy.
The CHP investigation revealed that the girl was in Guangdong Province during part of the incubation period and returned to Hong Kong on October 17. She had not received the 2025/26 SIV yet. Her household contacts are currently asymptomatic.
"Hong Kong is currently in the summer influenza season and there has been a significant increase in influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools since September. As of October 20, 556 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 59 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 298 cases in primary schools and 199 cases in secondary schools. Including the above case, 11 severe paediatric influenza cases, including one fatal case, involving children aged 2 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Nine of them had good past health. Members of the public, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, should seek medical advice promptly if presented with fever and respiratory symptoms, for early treatment," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
Continued: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/20/P2025102000848.htm
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2025
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 20) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection. The CHP urged schools and parents to arrange for schoolchildren to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as it is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. Vaccination also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection.
The case involves a 2-year-old girl with good past health. She has developed a fever and convulsion since yesterday (October 19). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital today and was admitted for treatment. She is currently in serious condition. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy.
The CHP investigation revealed that the girl was in Guangdong Province during part of the incubation period and returned to Hong Kong on October 17. She had not received the 2025/26 SIV yet. Her household contacts are currently asymptomatic.
"Hong Kong is currently in the summer influenza season and there has been a significant increase in influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools since September. As of October 20, 556 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 59 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 298 cases in primary schools and 199 cases in secondary schools. Including the above case, 11 severe paediatric influenza cases, including one fatal case, involving children aged 2 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Nine of them had good past health. Members of the public, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, should seek medical advice promptly if presented with fever and respiratory symptoms, for early treatment," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
Continued: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/20/P2025102000848.htm