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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said a new report involving an eight-year-old boy was received today (April 27) through the paediatric surveillance programme set up by the CHP with private and public hospitals.
Initial enquiries revealed that the boy, who lived in Sai Kung, presented with symptoms of encephalitis including fever, vomiting and convulsion yesterday. He attended Tseung Kwan O Hospital and subsequently passed away.
The boy had no recent travel history and had shown no signs of respiratory illness or Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).
Laboratory tests on the boy's clinical specimen yielded negative result to influence A virus.
His family members did not have similar symptoms. The school where the boy attended had no report of HFMD or influenza outbreak.
The case will be referred to the Coroner's court for investigation.
Ends/Monday, April 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:16
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