Press Release - April 27, 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 668 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 36 were discharged today (April 27). There are also 115 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 16 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers (one from Caritas Medical Centre and one from Tuen Mun Hospital). The remaining 14 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. One hundred patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Twelve patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tai Po Hospital and United Christian Hospital. This brought to 133 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased are aged from 45 to 91 and include eight women and four men. Eight of them have a history of chronic disease. Their information is as follows: