Severe Influenza A Case in Hong Kong: CHP Urges Vaccination for Children

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 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 convulsionsince 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 thatthe 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 illnessoutbreaks 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.

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.

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 family medicine 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

Hong Kong Customs teams up with Mainland and Macao Customs to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from December 31, 2025 to January 12, 2026, during which inspections of goods across the three places and destined for countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asia were stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 14 cases and seized about 19 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, footwear and electronic products, with a total estimated market value of about $14 million.

Through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, Hong Kong Customs in the operation detected 13 related cases at a number of local express couriers and logistics companies.

Meanwhile, Customs officers detected a case at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, seizing a batch of suspected counterfeit goods from an incoming lorry. A male lorry driver, aged 54, was arrested. An investigation is ongoing. The arrestee has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs teams up with Mainland and Macao Customs to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases