A nine-year-old girl in Hong Kong is in critical condition with severe influenza B, highlighting ongoing high flu activity and the urgency of vaccination campaigns as children return to school.
Hong Kong’s health authorities have reported a severe paediatric influenza case involving a nine-year-old girl with underlying health problems, as officials warned that flu activity remains high across the city and may rise further with the new school term. The Centre for Health Protection said the child developed fever on September 30, then cough and vomiting on October 1, before being taken to a private clinic and later transferred to the accident and emergency department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She is now in the paediatric intensive care unit in critical condition after tests found influenza B, with doctors diagnosing the illness as influenza B complicated by septic shock and severe pneumonia. According to the Centre for Health Protection, the child had not received the 2026/27 seasonal influenza vaccine and had no travel history during the incubation period.
The report adds to a run of serious childhood flu cases in Hong Kong this season. Government figures show that since the end of June, 21 severe paediatric influenza infections have been recorded, including one death. Of the total, 16 patients have recovered and been discharged, while two remain in stable condition and two are still in critical condition. The Centre for Health Protection said the overall level of influenza activity remains elevated and expects it to stay high in the coming weeks, with school outbreaks a particular concern as children return to classrooms and group activities increase.
Health officials have repeatedly urged parents to be alert to a rapid decline in a child’s condition if flu develops. The Centre said warning signs include shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, persistent fever and convulsions, and that children with these symptoms should be taken to an accident and emergency department without delay. The department also advised families living with older people, young children or anyone with weakened immunity to wear surgical masks at home when someone has respiratory symptoms, alongside regular handwashing, cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and proper indoor ventilation.
The latest case comes as Hong Kong’s 2026/27 seasonal influenza vaccination programme is under way, including school outreach visits that began on September 17. Officials said the programme now includes an electronic consent form system through eHealth, which is intended to make it easier for parents to enrol children and for schools and providers to organise vaccination sessions earlier. The Centre for Health Protection said about 100 schools have already scheduled outreach activities, more than at the same point last year, and expects the school campaign to finish by mid-December, around two weeks earlier than in 2025. It is appealing to schools and parents to complete consent arrangements promptly so pupils can be vaccinated sooner.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
