Viral infection kills girl, 9
A nine-year-old girl died yesterday, hours after being admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital in critical condition with symptoms of myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart caused by a viral infection.
The girl had a fever and was vomiting when she was admitted to the accident and emergency department at 11pm on Tuesday. She was transferred to intensive care but died at 2am. She had no recent travel history, the Centre for Health Protection said.
The case has been submitted to the coroner's court.
Myocarditis, a rare and often fatal condition, is usually caused when a viral infection reaches the heart, although the inflammation can be caused by other factors.
A seven-year-old girl was in serious condition last night in the intensive care unit of the same hospital. The two cases were not linked. She was admitted on Friday with fever and convulsions. She later developed symptoms of encephalitis. Preliminary tests were negative for influenza or enterovirus, the centre said.
The two cases are the latest in a string of serious child illnesses and deaths this year. Two of three children who died in February and March had flu, leading to a city-wide closure of schools. Since then three children have died of brain disease.
