Eight-year-old girl dies from pediatric influenza A infection

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced on Tuesday that they are investigating a fatal case of pediatric influenza A infection, bringing the total count to five cases for the year.

The case involves an 8-year-old girl with good past health.

She has had a fever and vomiting since June 16 (Sun), and was taken to a general practitioner the next day (June 17) and subsequently to Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) for medical attention.

She developed cardiac arrest at the accident and emergency department of CMC and passed away on the same day.

Her respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing.

Initial inquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period.

Her home contacts are currently asymptomatic, and the school she studied at did not report any outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection or influenza recently.

The CHP's investigations are ongoing, including further investigations into the patient’s cause of death.

The CHP spokesman recommends all persons aged 6 months or older, except those with known contraindications, persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should get vaccinated early.