CHP urges schoolchildren to promptly receive seasonal influenza vaccination as another severe paediatric influenza infection case reported
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 10) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza B 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 13-year-old girl with good past health. She has developed a fever, a cough, sore throat and running nosesince October 5. Her symptoms persisted and she collapsed at home on October 9. She was immediately sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital, and was transferred to the Hong Kong Children's Hospital on the same day. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza B virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza B infection complicated with encephalopathy, myocarditis and shock. She remains hospitalised in the paediatric intensive care unit and is in critical condition.
Her household contacts are currently asymptomatic. Three of her schoolmates in the same form developed mild influenza-like symptoms between October 3 and 9. None of them required hospitalisation. No outbreaks have been reported in other classes at her school so far. The CHP has advised the school on the necessary infection control measures to be implemented and will continue to put the school under medical surveillance.
"Hong Kong is currently in the summer influenza season and there has been a significant increase in influenza-like illnessoutbreaks in schools since September. As of October 9, 329 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 35 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 179 cases in primary schools and 115 cases in secondary schools. Including the above case, 10 severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Eight 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.
The 2025/26 SIV Programmes have commenced, offering free or subsidised SIV to eligible high-risk groups through various vaccination programmes. This year, all schools may choose to use the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines) and "hybrid mode", i.e. schools are allowed to choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and LAIV for the same or different outreach vaccination activities.
"Currently around 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange the SIV school outreach activities, with about 1 300 schools (58 per cent) scheduled to conduct outreach activities by the end of October. A number of schools have already completed their outreach activities. The school list of the 20 schools that will not arrange SIV outreach activities has been uploaded onto the CHP's website to enable parents of the students in those schools to arrange SIV for their children. I urge all schools to arrange outreach activities as soon as possible. Parents should not hesitate. As the saying goes, 'get vaccinated once a year and sooner is better than later'. Parents should arrange for their children to receive SIV as soon as possible to effectively prevent influenza and reduce the risk of serious illness or death from infection," Dr Tsui said.
The Government has opened all 29 of the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged 6 months to under 2 years. Moreover, the District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission in the 18 districts, and 74 general outpatient clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For a list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP'sVaccination Schemespage. Parents of eligible children may book an appointment for their children to receive vaccinations at designated MCHCs via theonline booking system.
Dr Tsui reminded high-risk individuals to wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.
For the latest information on seasonal influenza, members of the public can visit the CHP'sseasonal influenzaandCOVID-19 & Flu Expresswebpages.
Source: AI-found images
