Press Release - April 23, 2003

The following is jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):

In Hong Kong , a total of 522 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 61 were discharged today (April 23). There are also 133 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today there is an additional 24 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include 4 healthcare workers (two from Princess Margaret Hospital, one from Prince of Wales Hospital and one from Caritas Medical Centre). The remaining 20 are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the new treatment protocol. One hundred and ten patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Six patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) This brought to 105 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The six deceased, aged from 34 to 81,include four men and two women. Three of them have a history of chronic disease and their information is as follows: