Press Release - May 18, 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 1203 patients have recovered from SARS and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 12 were discharged today (May 18). There are now 195 active cases under treatment in hospitals, of whom 46 patients are in intensive care unit. Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol. In addition, 68 are recovering patients in convalescence and in preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional three patients confirmed to have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include one healthcare worker from Princess Margaret Hospital. The remaining two are other patients and contacts of patients with SARS.

Four patients died in United Christian Hospital (UCH), Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH), Queen Elizabeth Hospital(QEH)and Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH). This brought to 247 the total number of deaths relating to SARS in Hong Kong.

The deceased include three men and one woman aged from 41 to 79. Their information is as follows: