Key facts
- The Centre for Health Protection said 29 severe child influenza cases were recorded this season.
- Of those 29 cases, 22 children recovered and were discharged, two were stable and two were in critical condition.
- Centre director Dr Edwin Tsui urged residents aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated.
- The centre said unvaccinated children were about five times more likely to suffer severe complications or death, based on the previous year's data.
A 14-month-old girl died in Hong Kong on November 13 after contracting influenza, the third child death recorded by the city's health authorities this flu season, the Centre for Health Protection said.
The centre said influenza activity had shown signs of decline since Hong Kong entered its flu season in late June, but remained above baseline thresholds. It recorded 29 severe influenza cases involving children during the season. Apart from the three who died, 22 children recovered and were discharged, two were in stable condition and two were in critical condition.
Centre director Dr Edwin Tsui said the city remained in its flu season and urged everyone aged 6 months and older without a known contraindication to get vaccinated. He said data from the previous year showed unvaccinated children were about five times more likely to develop severe complications or die after catching influenza than vaccinated children.