Press Release - April 11, 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 169 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 15 were discharged today.

As at 1 pm today (April 11), an additional 61 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals. They include 11 healthcare workers (five from Princess Margaret Hospital, two from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, one from North District Hospital and one from Hong Kong Baptist Hospital) and 11 patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 39 were new 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 and twenty-one patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Two patients died in hospitals, bringing to 32 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong. They included a 81-year-old male with a history of chronic disease who died in Prince of Wales Hospital last night and a 79-year-old male patient who died in United Christian Hospital this morning.

The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals with atypical pneumonia since March 12 is as follows: