The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 27) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection.

     The five-year-old boy with good past health has presented with fever, cough and dizziness since May 25. He sought medical attention at a private clinic on the next day and was referred and admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital for management. The patient was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for monitoring on the same day. The patient is now in a stable condition.

     His nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for influenza A(H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis is influenza-associated encephalopathy.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had not received the latest seasonal influenza vaccine and had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts had mild cough earlier but recovered.

     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;
• Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs;
• 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 following CHP pages for more information: the influenza page, the weekly Flu Express report and the vaccination schemes page.

Ends/Saturday, May 27, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:31

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