Press Release - March 17, 2003

The index person suspected to have been the cause of the cluster of atypical pneumonia cases in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong had been identified, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said at a press briefing today (March 17).

"With the identification of the index person based on epidemiological investigations undertaken by the HKSAR�s Department of Health, 37 patients already admitted in the hospital who originally were not classified in the cluster of hospital atypical pneumonia cases are now classified as such," Dr Yeoh said.

"All these cases are not new admissions. There are only four new cases today.

"The unusual number of cases in this cluster of atypical pneumonia was because the index person did not present with features of pneumonia but only have fever.

"As a consequence, a large number of health care workers and relatives of patients were exposed before the diagnosis of atypical pneumonia was made."

Dr Yeoh also expressed sincere appreciation for the selfless professionalism of the health care workers of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong.

"I understand that they are now working under tremendous pressure, especially in the case of the internal medical wards due to the number of staff who have reported sick and the need for the remaining staff to care for the patients with pneumonia.

"The continued provision of medical services by the Prince of Wales Hospital will be based on two principles: safety of the patients and the staff available.

"I hope the public will understand the situation and will tolerate any inconvenience that may result from any changes in service provision," Dr Yeoh said.



For updated information and latest news on respiratory tract infections, please visit the special home page on the subject at www.info.gov.hk/info/infection-e.htm and the e-bulletin at www.news.gov.hk/en/index.shtml.