An 8-year-old boy was infected with influenza B and developed myocarditis

6/3/2025 5:57

An 8-year-old boy was infected with influenza B and developed myocarditis and was in critical condition.



The Centre for Health Protection said that the boy started coughing, running nose and sore throat last Saturday, and developed a fever the next day. After consulting a private doctor on Monday, he went to the emergency room of United Hospital on Tuesday and was admitted to the children's ward on the same day. He was later referred to the children's intensive care unit of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital. After laboratory tests and diagnosis, it was confirmed that the boy had influenza B complicated with myocarditis. He is currently hospitalized in the Children's Hospital in critical condition.



The CHP said that the boy had received this year's seasonal influenza vaccine and had not traveled abroad during the incubation period. Two of his household contacts had upper respiratory tract symptoms recently.



Including this boy, the CHP has received a total of 10 serious cases of children infected with influenza virus since January this year, of which 7 had not received influenza vaccine. As of the 2nd of this month, the seasonal influenza vaccination rate for children aged six months to under two years old is still at a low level. The government has specially opened the Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health to all children aged six months to two years or below. Parents can make appointments for their children to receive vaccinations at designated Maternal and Child Health Centres through the online appointment system.