The Centre for Health Protection has announced that an 11-year-old boy with a chronic illness has been diagnosed with influenza A(H3), complicated by severe pneumonia and myocarditis. He is being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit at Kwong Wah Hospital and remains in serious condition.
The boy developed a fever and cough on August 16, followed by shortness of breath the next day. He then sought treatment at Kwong Wah Hospital’s accident and emergency department and was admitted for further care.
A respiratory sample tested positive for influenza A(H3). The Centre’s preliminary investigation found that the boy had not travelled outside Hong Kong during the virus’s incubation period.
One household contact had also contracted influenza A(H3). Ming Pao reported that the contact had been admitted to hospital with a fever and upper respiratory symptoms and had since recovered and been discharged.
Cable News reported that Hong Kong had recorded 11 serious paediatric influenza cases since the flu season began in late June. The report did not provide further details of those cases.
The Centre for Health Protection urged parents to take children to an accident and emergency department immediately if their condition worsens. The reports did not provide details of the boy’s treatment or any subsequent change in his condition.