The Centre for Health Protection reported that a seven-year-old girl was in serious condition with severe pneumonia linked to influenza A(H1). She was being treated in paediatric intensive care at Kwong Wah Hospital.
She developed a fever, cough and fatigue on October 27 and later visited a private clinic. On October 29, she was admitted to hospital; after her condition worsened and she had difficulty breathing, she was transferred to intensive care.
The Centre said the girl had previously been in good health and had not received this season’s influenza vaccine.
The Centre said monitoring showed signs that influenza activity was declining, although it remained above the baseline level. It urged the public to get the seasonal flu vaccine promptly to help prevent severe illness and complications.