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news.gov.hk  
 From Hong Kong's Information Services Department
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February 17, 2010
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Prevention

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Woman's weakness investigated
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Centre for Health Protection

A 75-year-old woman who received the human swine influenza vaccination has been admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for lower limb weakness.

 

She developed bilateral lower limb weakness on February 8 and was admitted to the hospital the next day. She is now critical.

 

She received the jab on December 31 at a public outpatient clinic, more than five weeks before the onset of symptoms.

 

The Centre for Health Protection said tests indicate Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It will monitor her clinical progress and further laboratory results. The case will be reviewed by experts.

 

The majority of Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases temporarily associated with seasonal influenza vaccination occur between the second and the third week, with a median latency of 13 days.

 

According to the World Health Organisation, global experience so far shows the vaccination is not associated with increased incidence of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.