Summer severe paediatric flu infections reaches nine

The Centre for Health Protection reported another severe paediatric case of influenza A, bringing the total for the summer flu season to nine. The latest patient, a 17-month-old girl, had no significant underlying health conditions and had not received a flu vaccine recently. She began experiencing fever and cough on Sunday, with her condition deteriorating to shortness of breath the following day.

She was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with influenza A complicated by severe pneumonia and septic shock. The toddler remains in critical condition. Of the nine severe paediatric flu infections recorded since late June, one had sadly died, three others had been discharged, and the remainder remained hospitalized.

According to surveillance data, CHP controller Edwin Tsui stated that flu transmission levels remained high throughout the community. Tsui cautioned that as the number of infections is expected to rise, so too will the number of severe cases. He emphasized that this season's situation is typical, primarily affecting the elderly and children.

Tsui urged parents to remain watchful, as children's health can decline rapidly when infected with influenza. He advised monitoring children closely for symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, persistent fever, or convulsions, and seeking immediate medical attention if these signs arise.