Press Release - April 9, 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 142 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, four were discharged today.

As at 3 pm today (April 9), an additional 42 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to public hospitals. They include 15 healthcare workers (nine from Princess Margaret Hospital, two from United Christian Hospital, one from Tuen Mun Hospital, one from Tseung Kwan O Hospital, one from North District Hospital and one from Queen Elizabeth Hospital) and 5 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 eighteen patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Two patients with a history of chronic disease died in hospitals, bringing to 27 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia. They are 86-year-old female who died in Tuen Mun Hospital last night and a 35-year-old male who died in Queen Elizabeth 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: