A school has been closed in Hong Kong amid fears of a return of a mysterious flu epidemic.
All kindergartens and junior schools in Hong Kong have closed early for their Easter holiday, after a flu-like illness killed three children.
More than 30 students have flu-like symptoms and one of them died on Tuesday.
The Education Bureau described the move as a "precautionary measure".
Two other young children have died in separate cases from flu-like illnesses in recent weeks.
More than 30 students from one school have showed flu-like symptoms and three children have died from apparently similar illnesses in recent weeks.
An expert team is to assess whether the cases are linked to either bird flu or to Sars, the severe acute respiratory syndrome that hit Hong Kong in 2003.
Experts are investigating a link to either bird flu or Sars, a respiratory disease that hit Hong Kong in 2003.
'Very concerned'
The kindergartens and junior schools will be closed for two weeks, affecting more than half a million children.
Seven-year-old Law Ho-ming was admitted to hospital semi-conscious with fever and flu at the weekend.
Almost 200 cases of suspected flu have been reported so far.
He died on Tuesday from serious encephalitis and swelling of the brain.
Hong Kong's health chief, York Chow, said the decision to close the schools was made as the high rate of flu-like infections was expected to continue for weeks.
Five of his fellow students from the Ho Yat Tung Primary School remain in hospital and more than 30 others are displaying flu-like symptoms.
"We hope such precautionary measures will help reduce the cross-infection of the flu virus in schools and the community," the official Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
Government medical officers said they were "very concerned" about the outbreak and had brought forward the Easter holiday at the school by 10 days.
Expert team
The school closure is the first since 2003, when almost 300 people died from Sars.
Over the weekend seven-year-old Law Ho-ming was admitted to hospital in a semi-conscious state, suffering from fever and flu.
Concerns have also been raised about two other recent child deaths from flu.
He died on Tuesday from encephalitis - swelling of the brain.
Five of his fellow students from the Ho Yat Tung Primary School remain in hospital, and more than 30 others are displaying flu-like symptoms.
Concerns have also been raised about two other recent child deaths.
A two-year-old boy died in February and a three-year-old girl died on 1 March from what appeared to be a variant of bird flu.
A two-year-old boy died in February and a three-year-old girl died on 1 March from what appeared to be a variant of bird flu.
Government records show that people in 25 other schools, a hospital ward and a disabled residential home are suffering from outbreaks of flu.
The school closure is the first caused by illness since 2003, when almost 300 people died from Sars.
The government has set up an expert team led by a University of Hong Kong microbiologist to identify the illnesses in question and assess the risk posed to the territory.
Official records show that people in 25 other schools, a hospital ward and a disabled residential home are suffering from outbreaks of flu.
Experts say there is no reason yet to fear a major flu outbreak, but admit they do not yet know what caused the deaths of three young children.
The government has set up an expert team led by a University of Hong Kong microbiologist to identify the illnesses in question and assess the risk.
Experts say there is no reason yet to fear a major flu outbreak, but admit they do not yet know what caused the deaths.
Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below.
This is potentially very worrying indeed. I am due to travel to HK on Friday with 2 young children, not sure what the implications for the welfare of y family and travel arrangements might be.Richard, North Yorkshire
There not only happen in Hong Kong, I think it happen in world wide. Many people including me got virus infection over a month, it not over yet. U.K.Yan
This is very worrying. Looking from another country, not actually seeing what is happening in front of your face just causes fear to swell up within you.Clems, Singapore
School has also been closed down, and it appears the most students are partying and happier then ever. Primary school is scheduled to return in 2 weeks.Quinton S., Hong Kong
I applaud the HK public health department. They seem to have moved relatively quickly to prevent more deaths. Perhaps an alert system should be set up at every school, a liaison between parent, family doctor and the health department that closely monitors any child who gets sick regardless of the circumstances. This might be one way to avoid a major pandemic. Joan, USA
I have a family in Shenzhen and my kid travels to HK for school everyday. I just called them and heard they do not have to attend school for two weeks. He was told to wear mask outside and not to play with other kids.Pat Yuen,
It's clear and silent as the children do not need to wait for the school bus downstaireSimon Tsang, Hong Kong
I live in Hong Kong with my wife and two children (4 & 2), and they are now both off school. This seems an excessive reaction by the government, and my kids will surely play and be in contact with other children over the next few weeks, just not in a school environment. My wife is livid as she works from!Aidan McNeil, Hong Kong, China
