Press Release - April 25, 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 614 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 47 were discharged today (April 25). There are also 126 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 22 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include four healthcare workers (one from Caritas Medical Centre, one from Union Hospital, one from Tseung Kwan O Hospital and one from Tuen Mun Hospital). The remaining 18 are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

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

Six patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Tai Po Hospital (TPH),Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital(PYNEH), and United Christian Hospital (UCH). This brought to 115 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased are aged from 35 to 96 and include two women and four men. Their information is as follows: