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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 12) investigating three cases of severe paediatric influenza A infection. All the patients are currently in stable condition.
The first patient is a 9-year-old boy with good past health. He has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since February 4. He sought medical attention from private doctors on February 4 and 8, and was diagnosed as having upper respiratory tract infection. As he developed dull appearance with muttering and poor appetite, he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on February 11. He was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day. His clinical diagnosis was acute encephalitis.
His nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for influenza A (H3) upon laboratory testing by QEH. Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Two of his home contacts have upper respiratory symptoms while the remaining one is asymptomatic.
The second patient is a 3-year-old girl who lives in the Mainland with underlying illness. She has presented with fever, cough and shortness of breath since December 31, 2014, and was admitted to a hospital in Nanjing in early January. She was taken to QEH on February 6 and was directly admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for further management. She was transferred to a general ward on February 11 and her clinical diagnosis was severe pneumonia.
Her nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for influenza A (H3) upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch. Her home contacts remained asymptomatic.
The remaining patient is a 6-year-old boy with underlying illnesses. He has presented with fever, cough and runny nose since February 10. He developed transient loss of consciousness and limb twitching on February 11, and was subsequently taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). He was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day. His provisional diagnosis was encephalopathy.
His nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for influenza A upon laboratory testing by PMH. Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. His elder sister had symptoms of influenza-like illness since February 7. She did not require hospitalisation and is currently in stable condition. Other home contacts remained asymptomatic.
Investigations are ongoing.
The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
* Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
* Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
* When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
* Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
* Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
* Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation;
* When influenza is prevalent, avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
* Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
The public may visit the CHP's pages below for more information:
* The influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/14843.html);
* The weekly Flu Express report (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/2108.html);
* The update on severe seasonal influenza cases (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/flu_update_en.pdf);
* The vaccination schemes page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/17980.html); and
* The list of participating doctors (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/34664.html).
Ends/Thursday, February 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:19
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