Unvaccinated 8-year-old Hongkonger dies after contracting flu, amid warnings over risks of low inoculation rate for children
- Authorities say girl developed fever and cough, before suffering convulsions and testing positive for influenza A (H1)
- HKU expert in paediatrics and adolescent medicine calls for vaccination push amid growing trend in local flu cases
An unvaccinated eight-year-old Hongkonger has died after contracting the flu amid warnings the city’s low inoculation rate is putting children at greater risk of infection, especially as immunities have been weakened following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Authorities said on Saturday evening that the girl, who had a good bill of past health, had developed a fever and cough on Wednesday before suffering from convulsions the following day.
She was taken to Kwong Wah Hospital, where she tested positive for influenza A (H1) and died on Thursday after her condition deteriorated.
The Centre for Health Protection said an investigation had been launched into the girl’s death, noting that she had not been vaccinated for influenza this season and had no travel history during the incubation period. Her home contacts were asymptomatic at present.
The centre also appealed to the public to receive shots against seasonal flu to better protect themselves while staying vigilant.
Authorities announced the death just hours after Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah, an honorary associate professor at the University of Hong Kong’s department of paediatrics and adolescent medicine, urged the public to get their jabs amid a rise in flu cases.
