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 From Hong Kong's Information Services Department
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April 26, 2008
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Surveillance

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Girl with human metapneumovirus dies
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Centre for Health Protection

A three-year-old girl with human metapneumovirus infection has died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Centre for Health Protection says.

 

The centre said the patient had an underlying medical condition and her respiratory sample yielded positive to human metapneumovirus.

 

This disease has been reported worldwide and known to cause respiratory tract infection, predominantly in children. It is transmitted by direct contact or through contact with contaminated secretions, with mild to moderate symptoms in healthy children.

 

Meanwhile, the centre received no new report through the influenza surveillance arrangement set up with private and public hospitals.

 

Among the 33 cases reported under the arrangement since March 13, 10 cases have been confirmed to have flu - nine have been discharged and one is stable.

 

For the other 23 cases who tested negative for flu, 16 were discharged, five were still in hospital, and two died including the three-year-old girl with human metapneumovirus infection.