A 7-year-old boy with flu symptoms became very sick within a short period in Tuen Mun Hospital last night, adding to the flu scare in the district.

Nurses wearing full protective gear take visitors' temperature at Tuen Mun Hospital yesterday. Edmond Tang

However, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) disclosed in a press conference last night that the boy has been tested negative for both H3N2 types A and B viruses. Further tests will be carried out.

Mr Law, the father of the 7-year-old, said the condition of his son deteriorated very quickly within a day or so.

In the opinion of Tse Hung-hing, a pediatrics expert, the boy might have contracted acute encephalitis given the drastic change in his condition within such short time.

Choi Kin, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, said the boy must have such other complications as pneumonia or encephalitis.

The boy lived and attended a primary school in Tuen Mun. In Feb, a total of 28 pupils who attended the school were reported to have signs of influenza such as cough and runny nose.

Yesterday evening, the CHP called an urgent press conference following electronic media reports that a 7-year-old boy had died of meningitis in the morning. Thomas Tsang, the CHP's controller, clarified that the boy was actually in critical condition.

He revealed that the 7-year-old has sought medical consultation at Tuen Mun Hospital on March 6 and 8.

According to Lam Shu-yan, a pediatrics doctor at the hospital, the boy's condition was normal when he came to the hospital on March 6 and his X-ray did not reveal pneumonia.

But his condition changed drastically when he was taken to the accident & emergency department of the hospital on March 8. He was having delirium and cramps, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed his brain was swollen.

"He is now in the intensive care unit and needs respiratory support. His condition is very critical," said Lam.

As to the death of the 3-year-old girl in the same hospital last week, Tsang said a post-mortem revealed other symptoms that could not be caused by influenza virus alone.

Further inquires will be carried out to find out if there were other factors that had resulted in the drastic deterioration of her condition.

Meanwhile, public hospitals continued to tighten preventive measures.

At Tuen Mun Hospital, healthcare workers provided masks to those who entered the accident & emergency department and checked their body temperature.

Those found with a fever were separated.

But Tuen Mun District Councilor Chan Wan-sang worried that patients might get cross-infected while waiting at the accident & emergency department.

Given that Tuen Mun Hospital is more well-equipped to deal with influenza patients, he suggested those without fever be transferred to other hospitals, and called for more healthcare workers to station in Tuen Mun.

(HK Edition 03/11/2008 page1)