Press Release - May 2, 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 878 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 44 were discharged today (May 2). There are also 97 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 11 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers (one from Prince of Wales Hospital and one from Baptist Hospital). The remaining 9 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. Eighty-five patients are receiving treatment in intensive are unit.

Eight patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), Tai Po Hospital (TPH), Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) and Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH). This brought to 170 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include five men and three women who are aged from 75 to 93. Their information is as follows: