The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a second case of severe pediatric influenza A this season, involving a two-month-old boy.
The baby boy, who is in a serious condition, had presented with a fever, cough and runny nose since January 24 when brought to the Accident and Emergency Department at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin in the New Territories.
He was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit four days later, according to a government release.
The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia.
The baby boy had no travel history during the incubation period. However, his grandparents and a male relative had upper respiratory tract infection symptoms recently and had sought medical attention and were in a stable condition.
Microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung from the University of Hong Kong said it was the second severe case this season involving young children, Apple Daily reported.
The two children were both under six months old and adults in each family had upper-respiratory-tract infection symptoms.
Ho advised that if there are young children aged under six months old in the family, parents and caretakers, including domestic workers should get vaccinations against influenza as soon as possible.
The health authorities said the latest surveillance data indicated that the local seasonal influenza activity may remain at an elevated level for some time, they urged the public to continue heightening its vigilance against seasonal influenza
Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.