Two Boys in Critical Condition as Hong Kong Flu Cases Surge After School Reopens
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Centre for Health Protection confirmed on September 10 that two boys - a healthy 11-year-old and a 6-year-old with underlying conditions - are in critical condition after contracting influenza A. Both were unvaccinated last season. School-based outbreaks have surged to 73 cases involving 398 people since September 1, with flu positivity rates at 13.05% and hospital admission rates at 0.83 per 10,000 population. The 2026/27 seasonal flu vaccination programme launches September 17.
Key Points
- The 11-year-old boy, previously healthy, developed septic shock and encephalitis after presenting with fever, cough and drowsiness on September 9; he was treated at Tuen Mun Hospital PICU
- The 6-year-old boy with chronic illness developed severe pneumonia; he sought treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital starting September 6 before deteriorating to PICU admission
- Both children had not received the previous season flu vaccine, which Centre for Health Protection data shows increases severe complication risk approximately fivefold
- Of 19 cumulative severe paediatric cases since late June, outcomes include 9 discharged, 5 stable, 2 severe, 2 critical and 1 death
- Elderly care homes reported 23 additional flu-like outbreaks last week, affecting 134 residents
Why It Matters
The twin cases underscore that healthy children can develop life-threatening complications from influenza A, while the sharp rise in school outbreaks during the first two weeks of class creates conditions for further transmission as pupils return to close-contact environments . With the vaccination programme not launching until September 17 and flu activity expected to remain elevated for weeks, parents face an urgent window to protect unvaccinated children before outbreaks spread further .
The twin cases underscore that healthy children can develop life-threatening complications from influenza A, while the sharp rise in school outbreaks during the first two weeks of class creates conditions for further transmission as pupils return to close-contact environments . With the vaccination programme not launching until September 17 and flu activity expected to remain elevated for weeks, parents face an urgent window to protect unvaccinated children before outbreaks spread further .