Hong Kong reported two additional serious paediatric influenza cases on September 10, involving boys aged 11 and six. Neither had received seasonal influenza vaccination for the 2025–26 season, and both remained in serious condition while receiving treatment in paediatric intensive care.
The previously healthy 11-year-old was diagnosed with influenza A complicated by septic shock and encephalitis. The six-year-old had an underlying chronic illness and was diagnosed with influenza A complicated by severe pneumonia. The reports did not provide further details about the younger boy’s illness.
The 11-year-old developed a fever, cough and drowsiness on September 9 and sought treatment at Pok Oi Hospital that day. He was later transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital after his condition deteriorated and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. A respiratory sample tested positive for influenza A (H1), while initial checks found no symptoms among his household contacts.
The two cases brought the number of serious paediatric influenza cases recorded in Hong Kong from late June through September 10 to 19. Since the September school term began, 73 school influenza outbreaks involving 398 people had also been reported.
The Centre for Health Protection expected influenza activity to remain at a high level for the following several weeks and urged parents to arrange seasonal influenza vaccination for their children as soon as possible. The reports did not say whether the two boys were linked or identify their sources of infection.