Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection said Thursday that it was investigating a case of invasive Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) infection.

A spokesman for the center said the case affected a two-year-old girl who had underlying congenital problems and had been staying in a local hospital since October 2007.

The girl developed fever and tachycardia on July 23. Test showed her blood culture grew Hib. She was now in stable condition.

The spokesman said that Hib is a bacteria which may cause meningitis and other infections in children, including pneumonia, epiglottis and septicemia.

"Hib infections usually occur in children aged below five years. The risk of older children getting the disease is relatively low," he said.

He urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2009)