Southern health officials maintain influenza vigil

Health authorities in South China's Guangdong province are working overtime to monitor a current influenza outbreak after all kindergartens, childcare centers and primary schools in neighboring Hong Kong were closed yesterday amid a seasonal outbreak.

The Hong Kong education bureau announced late on Wednesday a two-week suspension of classes in a bid to prevent the spread of flu after four recent child deaths.

It also emerged on Wednesday night that a 21-month-old toddler had succumbed to flu in Hong Kong late last month.