Press Release - May 7, 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 984 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 26 were discharged today (May 7). There are now 466 patients in hospital, of whom 89 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 8 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier.

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol. Sixty-six patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Eleven patients died in United Christian Hospital (UCH), Tai Po Hospital (TPH), Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). This brought to 204 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include eight men and three women who are aged from 42 to 86. Their information is as follows: