HONG KONG – Health authorities in Hong Kong urged schools and parents on Monday to arrange for schoolchildren to promptly get their free flu shots after detecting another severe pediatric influenza case involving a two-year-old girl.
The patient, who was in good past health, developed a fever and had convulsions on Sunday. Currently in serious condition, she was diagnosed with influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy, said the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.
"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,” said Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, CHP controller.
Tsui said 556 outbreaks have been reported in schools since last month, including 59 cases in kindergartens/child care centers, 298 cases in primary schools, and 199 cases in secondary schools.
The city has also recorded a total of 11 severe paediatric influenza cases, involving children aged 2 to 17, he added.
On Oct 12, a 13 year-old girl died due to a severe paediatric influenza B infection, the first fatal case of paediatric influenza in Hong Kong since June last year.
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Tsui reminded members of the public that free or subsidized flu jabs are available under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s 2025/26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes.
Schools may opt for the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), which is administered nasally, or adopt a "hybrid mode" allowing the use of both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and LAIV.
To improve accessibility, the SAR government has opened all 29 Maternal and Child Health Centres under the DH to children aged 6 months to under 2 years to get their jabs.
Tsui said District Health Centres, District Health Centre Expresses, and their service outlets located across the city’s 18 districts, as well as 74 family medicine clinics and 38 public hospitals, are also offering expanded vaccination options.
He also advised high-risk individuals to wear surgical masks in crowded areas. Anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a mask, seek medical attention promptly, and consider staying home from work or school to prevent the spread of infection.
