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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Hong Kong : Fatal case of invasive pneumococcal infection investigated

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" In response to media enquiries, a spokesperson for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (November 19) that the CHP is investigating a fatal case of invasive pneumococcal infection involving a 3-year-old boy. This kind of infection is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The boy, with good past health, presented with fever and cough on November 12. He sought medical consultation from two private hospitals on November 12 and 14 respectively. He was admitted to another private hospital on November 15. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on November 17 and died on the same day.


The boy's pleural fluid specimens tested positive for serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae upon laboratory testing by both the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP and QMH.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had been immunised with 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and 10-valent PCV booster. He had no recent travel history and his family contacts are currently asymptomatic. No other similar cases have been reported by the kindergarten which he attended. Advice on prevention of respiratory infectious diseases has been given to the management of the kindergarten. The case will be referred to the Coroner's Court for investigation."

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