A 14-month-old girl has died after contracting influenza A, in what the Centre for Health Protection says is Hong Kong’s third child death from flu this year. She died on November 13.
The girl developed a fever and cough on October 26 and had a seizure the following day. Her condition worsened and she was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at United Christian Hospital. The Centre for Health Protection said tests detected influenza A(H1); her clinical diagnosis included acute necrotising encephalopathy and multiple organ failure. The centre had announced her severe case on October 29.
The centre reported 29 severe paediatric influenza cases this season: 22 children had recovered and been discharged, two were stable, two were critically ill and three had died. Hong Kong’s influenza season began in late June and had lasted more than four months. Overall activity had shown signs of declining, but remained above the baseline level.
The centre urged anyone aged six months or older who has not had a seasonal influenza vaccine to get one, except people with known contraindications. Its director cited data from the previous year showing that, among children who caught influenza, the rate of serious complications or death was about five times higher for those who had not been vaccinated than for vaccinated children.
The centre said vaccine supplies were sufficient and eligible people could receive free or subsidised vaccination at about 270 public service points. These include all 29 maternal and child health centres still open to eligible children aged six months to under two.