Press Release - April 2, 2003

A drop in new infections by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or atypical pneumonia, was a good sign, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Tung Chee Hwa said today (April 2).

"I believe the HKSAR Government has a good grasp of the problem," Mr Tung told a press briefing in Hong Kong. "Look at the numbers."

Just 23 new infections were recorded, bringing the total to 708 in Hong Kong. In all, 89 patients had made a full recovery and been discharged. No new deaths were recorded today.

Mr Tung said 600 people were visiting the four designated clinics every day for check-ups, as requested.

The treatments being refined by researchers and clinicians were showing promise and he hoped to have better news in not too many days.

"Very soon, you will see the gradual improvement coming through," he said.

The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the HKSAR, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong told the briefing that of the 23 new admissions, only three came from Amoy Gardens in Ngau Tau Kok. Seven were health care workers and 13 were family and social contacts of patients, he said.

Dr Yeoh said the sudden rise and fall in the number of infections from Amoy Gardens indicated the outbreak began at a single point, which was very likely to be the "index patient" who had been receiving treatment for kidney disease and visited his brother in Block E several times after being infected with the virus.

Responding to questions, the HKSAR Chief Executive said the World Health Organisation's (WHO) travel advisory about postponing visits to the region was merely confirmation of what had already been happening with an understandable drop in the numbers of business visitors and tourists.

The HKSAR would continue to work with the WHO, giving facts and figures on atypical
pneumonia in the same transparent manner, he said.

Mr Tung also said the Hong Kong SAR Government was working closely and communicating with the Central Government and the Guangdong health authorities to set up a mechanism to deal with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak.

Dr Yeoh said residents of Block E of Amoy Garden being kept in isolation at holiday camps would be offered post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. This new treatment involved taking Ribavirin tablets that in most cases were expected to ward off atypical pneumonia or reduce its effects.

However, potential side effects would be carefully explained and people would be left to decide if they wanted to undergo the treatment before they became ill.

Most of the patients already in hospital were responding very well to the existing treatment with Ribavirin and steroids, he 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 HKSAR Department of Health website at www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm as well as the e-bulletin at www.news.gov.hk/en/index.shtml.