CHP advises schoolchildren to immediately get seasonal influenza vaccination as extreme paediatric influenza A infection case was taped over 2 successive days
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Following the other day’s (September 29) statement of a case of serious paediatric influenza A infection, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) tape-recorded another comparable serious case. The CHP repeats its attract schools and moms and dads to schedule schoolchildren to get complimentary seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as it is among the most reliable methods to avoid seasonal influenza and its issues. Vaccination likewise minimizes the threat of severe disease or death from infection.
The current case includes a six-year-old lady with excellent previous health. She established a fever, a cough and running nose considering that September 20. She participated in the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital on September 26. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen evaluated favorable for the influenza An infection upon lab screening. The scientific medical diagnosis was influenza A infection made complex with extreme pneumonia. She stays hospitalised in the paediatric extensive care system of the medical facility and remains in major condition.
The CHP’s examinations exposed that a person of the woman’s family contacts established moderate breathing signs on September 21, who did not need hospitalisation after looking for medical attention. The lady had actually gotten the 2024/25 SIV. 4 of her schoolmates just recently established moderate influenza-like signs in between September 28 and 29. None needed hospitalisation. No break outs have actually been reported in other classes at her school up until now. The CHP recommended the school on the needed infection control steps to be executed and will continue to put the school under medical security.
“Hong Kong is currently in the summer influenza season and there has been a significant increase in influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools since September. As of September 29, 232 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 22 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 123 cases in primary schools and 87 cases in secondary schools. Nine severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Seven of them had good past health,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, stated.
The 2025/26 SIV Programmes have actually begun, providing totally free or subsidised SIV to qualified high-risk groups through numerous vaccination programs. This year, all schools might select to utilize the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines) and “hybrid mode”i.e. schools are permitted to select both injectable suspended influenza vaccines and LAIV for the very same or various outreach vaccination activities.
“Currently around 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange the SIV school outreach activities, with about 1 300 schools (58 per cent) scheduled to conduct outreach activities by the end of October. Some schools have already completed their outreach activities. For schools that will not arrange SIV outreach activities, the school list will be uploaded onto the CHP’s website to enable parents of the students in those schools to arrange SIV for their children. I urge all schools to arrange outreach activities as soon as possible. Parents should not hesitate. As the saying goes, ‘get vaccinated once a year and sooner is better than later’. Parents should arrange for their children to receive SIV as soon as possible to effectively prevent influenza and reduce the risk of serious illness or death from infection,” Dr Tsui stated.
The Government has actually opened all 29 of the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all kids aged 6 months to under 2 years. The 25 District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission, and 74 basic outpatient centers and 38 public medical facilities of the Hospital Authority to supply more options for the public. For a list of vaccination places, please describe the CHP’s Vaccination Schemes page. Moms and dads of qualified kids might reserve a consultation for their kids to get vaccinations at designated MCHCs by means of the online reservation system.
Dr Tsui advised high-risk people to use surgical masks when remaining in congested locations. Individuals with breathing signs, even if moderate, need to use a surgical mask and look for medical suggestions quickly. They need to likewise think about whether to participate in work or school.
For the current info on seasonal influenza, members of the general public can go to the CHP’s seasonal influenza and COVID-19 & & Flu Express websites.