Press Release - April 29, 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 759 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 49 were discharged today(April 29). There are also 112 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 15 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include four healthcare workers (one from Tuen Mun Hospital, one from Princess Margaret Hospital, one from Caritas Medical Centre and one private doctor in Yau Ma Tei). The remaining 11 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. Ninety-two patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Twelve patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH),Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) , Tai Po Hospital (TPH) and United Christian Hospital (UCH). This brought to 150 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include seven men and five women who are aged from 40 to 91. Nine of them has a history of chronic disease. Their information is as follows: