The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 29) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection. The CHP urged schools and parents to arrange for schoolchildren to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection.

     The case involves a 13-year-old girl with good past health. On September 27, she developed a fever, a cough and vomiting. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital yesterday (September 28). Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A (H3) infection complicated with encephalopathy and shock. She remains hospitalised in the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital and is in serious condition.

     She had not received the 2024/25 SIV. Her household contacts are currently asymptomatic. No influenza outbreaks have been reported at her school recently.

     "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 28, 207 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 21 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 112 cases in primary schools and 74 cases in secondary schools. Eight severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Six of them had good past health," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

     The 2025/26 SIV Programmes have commenced, offering free or subsidised SIV to eligible high-risk groups through various vaccination programmes. This year, all schools may choose to use the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines) and "hybrid mode", i.e. schools are allowed to choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and LAIV for the same or different 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. The earliest school SIV outreach activity took place today. 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 said.
 
     The Government has opened all 29 of the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged 6 months to under 2 years. Moreover, the 25 District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission, and 74 general outpatient clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For a list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP's Vaccination Schemes page. Parents of eligible children may book an appointment for their children to receive vaccinations at designated MCHCs via the online booking system.

     Dr Tsui reminded high-risk individuals to wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.
 
     For the latest information on seasonal influenza, members of the public can visit the CHP's seasonal influenza and COVID-19 & Flu Express webpages. 

Ends/Monday, September 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:50

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