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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said that two new reports were received today (August 13) through the paediatric surveillance programme set up by the CHP with private and public hospitals, involving two girls aged nine and seven.
In the first case, the nine-year-old girl had fever and vomiting and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) on August 12 to receive intensive care treatment. She passed away this morning.
The girl had no recent travel history. The case has been submitted to Coroner's Court for further investigation.
The 7-year-old girl was admitted to PWH on August 8 with fever and convulsions. She later developed symptoms of encephalitis and is now in serious condition. Preliminary tests on her specimens showed negative results to influenza or enterovirus.
The girl had no history of travel and her family members did not have any similar symptoms.
CHP's investigation on this case is on-going.
Ends/Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:31
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