# 1824
The deaths of four school children earlier this month led to the closure of all of Hong Kong's schools with fears of a `killer flu' running rampant in the media.
Tests have now shown that the flu viruses detected in Hong Kong have not mutated to a more dangerous strain. A grim reminder that even seasonal flu can be deadly for young children.
Hong Kong schools to reopen after flu outbreak
Hong Kong will resume classes for schoolchildren next week after scientists confirmed that seasonal flu viruses in the city had not mutated to become more vicious, public health officials say.
The outbreak had no links to H5N1 bird flu, but the decision to shut schools brought back memories of 2003, when an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit Hong Kong.
Hong Kong shut elementary schools for two weeks in March to contain a seasonal influenza outbreak after two children who contracted the flu died.
But experts later said they found no evidence that the children had been infected by virus strains that were more virulent or aggressive, which opened up the possibility that their deaths might have been linked to other causes.
Related Post:
Widget by [ Iptek-4u ]