Press Release

Suspected fatal paediatric case of pneumonia under CHP investigation

14 January 2013

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 14) investigating a suspected fatal paediatric case of pneumonia involving a 9-year-old girl.

The patient, with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, presented with fever and sought medical consultation at the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on January 13. She was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day. Her condition rapidly deteriorated after admission and she passed away early this morning.

The provisional clinical diagnosis was septic shock with pneumonia.

Her respiratory specimens have been tested negative for influenza by Queen Mary Hospital. The laboratory testing for other pathogens is in progress.

She had no recent travel history and her family contacts are asymptomatic.

The CHP's investigation is continuing.