CHP investigates case of severe paediatric influenza A infection
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 20) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The 2024/25 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes will begin on September 26 and the CHP urged the public to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) to better protect themselves during the coming influenza season.
The case involves a 9-year-old boy with good past health. He developed a sore throat since September 17 and sought medical attention froma private doctor on the same day. He developed a fever, cough and shortness of breath on September 18 and was brought to Kwong Wah Hospital and was admitted on the same day. He is now at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for treatment and is now in serious condition. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen was positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. One of his home contacts is currently symptomatic. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. The 2024/25 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes will begin on September 26. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on theCHP's website.
A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when visiting public places. The public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
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;
Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
Maintain good indoor ventilation;
When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
The public may visit the CHP'sinfluenza pageand weeklyCOVID-19 & Flu Expressfor more information.
DH and COSH join hands to promote acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China
To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Department of Health (DH) and the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health jointly organised the Inheritance and Innovation of the Chinese Medicine Cultural Treasure - the Launch Ceremony of the Clinical Guideline of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Smoking Cessation (Hong Kong Edition) (Guideline) today (September 20). The promulgation of the Guideline is to aim at further enabling Chinese medicine practitioners to widely adopt acupuncture and moxibustion to help patients quit smoking.
Basing on service and research data over the years as well as the latest scientific evidence, the Guideline is the joint effort of the DH, the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Pok Oi Hospital. It covers acupuncture treatment protocols that are tailored to suit local practices and clinical tools for smoking cessation assessments and brief counseling. The Guideline will assist Chinese medicine practitioners in mastering the theoretical basis of smoking cessation by acupuncture and enable them to provide effective smoking cessation support and treatment in their daily practice to help their patients overcome tobacco addiction.
The launching ceremony was officiated by the Vice Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), Dr Wang Zhiyong. Dr Wang congratulated the launch of the Guideline, and commended the DH for its positive contribution to promoting tobacco control policies and implementing relevant measures. Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, expressed his gratitude to the NATCM for their enduring support of the DH's tobacco control endeavors, and called on the Chinese medicine community to actively promote the wide application of the Guideline.
With the support of the NATCM, the DH started to launch a smoking cessation service programme using Chinese medicine in Hong Kong in 2010. The programme aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based smoking cessation services using Chinese medicine based on clinical evidence. The smoking cessation service using acupuncture and moxibustion, a collaboration between the DH and Pok Oi Hospital, has served over 17 000 smokers since its launch in 2010 and has achieved a quit rate comparable to pharmaceutical treatments.
DH and COSH join hands to promote acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH and COSH join hands to promote acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH and COSH join hands to promote acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH and COSH join hands to promote acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
