Press Release - April 5, 2003

The following is jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):

A total of 107 patients in Hong Kong have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, eight were discharged today.

As at 3 pm today (April 5), an additional 39 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to Hong Kong�s public hospitals. They include ten healthcare workers and seven patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 22 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 seven patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Three male patients all with a history of chronic disease died in hospital today, bring to 20 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia. They include two patients, aged 73 and 81, who died in Prince of Wales Hospital. The third case, a 52-year-old man, died in Princess Margaret Hospital.

The cumulative number of patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong since March 12 is as follows: