Press Release - March 27, 2003

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

As at 1 pm today (March 27), a total of 367 people with pneumonia symptoms have been admitted to Hong Kong public hospitals. The 51 additional patients reported today include six healthcare workers and 22 patients from Amoy Garden. The remaining 23 were new patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

As at today, 19 patients have been discharged from hospitals. A total of 45 patients are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. An additional patient, a Filipino female, with atypical pneumonia died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 24.

The HKSAR Department of Health confirmed four new cases of atypical pneumonia involving school children comprising three boys and a girl aged from five to 13. These cases are among the 367 cases reported today.

DH and HA of HKSAR are pleased to see the development of rapid diagnostic test which facilitates prompt confirmation of severe respiratory syndrome cases and evaluation of effectiveness of treatment.

"We have great appreciation for the efforts of the health professionals in the management of atypical pneumonia, and the important research progress of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong towards identification of the cause of the disease," a DH spokesman added.