Press Release - April 15, 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 243 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 14 were discharged today (April 15).

As at 3 pm today, there is an additional 42 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include 11 healthcare workers (three from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, three from Prince of Wales Hospital, two from Kwong Wah Hospital, two from Princess Margaret Hospital, and one from Queen Elizabeth Hospital). The remaining 31 were 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 and twenty-seven patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Nine patients died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, United Christian Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. This brought to 56 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong. The deceased include four men and one woman, aged from 45 to 84, who have a history of chronic diseases. The remaining are a 45-year-old man and three women, aged 32, 34 and 37.

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