CHP prompts schoolchildren to immediately get seasonal influenza vaccination as another serious paediatric influenza infection case reported
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 10) revealed a case of serious paediatric influenza B infection. The CHP prompted schools and moms and dads to schedule schoolchildren to get totally free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as it is among the most reliable methods to avoid seasonal influenza and its problems. Vaccination likewise lowers the threat of major disease or death from infection.
The case includes a 13-year-old lady with great previous health. She has actually established a fever, a cough, aching throat and running nose because October 5. Her signs continued and she collapsed in your home on October 9. She was right away sent out to the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital, and was moved to the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital on the very same day. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen evaluated favorable for the influenza B infection upon lab screening. The medical diagnosis was influenza B infection made complex with encephalopathy, myocarditis and shock. She stays hospitalised in the paediatric extensive care system and remains in crucial condition.
Her family contacts are presently asymptomatic. 3 of her schoolmates in the very same type established moderate influenza-like signs in between October 3 and 9. None needed hospitalisation. No break outs have actually been reported in other classes at her school up until now. The CHP has actually recommended the school on the essential infection control steps to be carried out 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 October 9, 329 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 35 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 179 cases in primary schools and 115 cases in secondary schools. Including the above case, 10 severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Eight of them had good past health. Members of the public, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, should seek medical advice promptly if presented with fever and respiratory symptoms, for early treatment,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, stated.
The 2025/26 SIV Programmes have actually started, using totally free or subsidised SIV to qualified high-risk groups through numerous vaccination programs. This year, all schools might pick to utilize the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines) and “hybrid mode”i.e. schools are enabled to pick 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. A number of schools have already completed their outreach activities. The school list of the 20 schools that will not arrange SIV outreach activities has been 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 District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission in the 18 districts, and 74 basic outpatient centers and 38 public healthcare facilities of the Hospital Authority to supply more options for the public. For a list of vaccination locations, please describe the CHP’s Vaccination Schemes page. Moms and dads of qualified kids might schedule 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, must use a surgical mask and look for medical guidance without delay. They need to likewise think about whether to go to work or school.
For the current details on seasonal influenza, members of the general public can go to the CHP’s seasonal influenza and COVID-19 & & Flu Express web pages.