Press Release - March 29, 2003

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

The HKSAR Department of Health visited Amoy Gardens in Kowloon last night and performed screening of its residents to ensure their health. A medical surveillance post has been set up to address health concerns of the residents. Investigations including a detailed questionnaire study of the cases are being performed.

Meanwhile, an additional 45 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals as at 1 pm today (March 29). They include three healthcare workers and 22 patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 20 were new patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

Eighteen patients, including 12 healthcare workers and medical students of Prince of Wales Hospital, were discharged from hospitals today. A total of 43 patients to date have recovered from atypical pneumonia and were discharged.

Currently, 53 patients are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.

A 83-year-old male patient with a history of cardiac disease died in Prince of Wales Hospital this morning. This brings to 12 the total number of patients died with atypical pneumonia in public hospitals.

The cumulative figure for patients admitted to public hospitals with atypical pneumonia is 470, starting from March 12.