Press Release - April 7, 2003

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

A total of 127 patients in Hong Kong have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 11 were discharged today.

As at 3 pm today (April 7), an additional 41 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals. They include seven healthcare workers (two from Princess Margaret Hospital, four from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and one from Tuen Mun Hospital) and 10 patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 24 were new 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 sixteen patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

A 78-year-old female patient died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital last night, bringing to 23 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals with atypical pneumonia since March 12 is as follows: