A 12-year-old girl with an underlying health condition died on October 20 after influenza A complications, the Centre for Health Protection said. Her clinical diagnosis included septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ failure.
She developed a fever, cough and diarrhoea on October 17, followed by vomiting. Her condition worsened on the evening of October 19 and she was taken to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where she suffered cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated and admitted to paediatric intensive care. A respiratory sample tested positive for influenza A (H1).
The Centre for Health Protection’s preliminary investigation found that she had not travelled during the incubation period and had not received the 2026/27 seasonal flu vaccine.
The current flu season has recorded 25 serious influenza cases among children, including two deaths. Twenty children have recovered and been discharged, one remains seriously ill and two are in critical condition, according to the centre.
Since schools reopened in September, the centre has received nearly 460 reports of influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools, affecting about 2,800 people. Its director, Dr Edwin Tsui, said local flu activity remained high after nearly four months of the season and was expected to fluctuate at a high level over the coming weeks.
The centre urged people to get seasonal flu vaccination, particularly those at higher risk, and to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to help prevent flu and other respiratory illnesses.