Press Release - June 16, 2003

Since the last update issued on Wednesday (June 11), Hong Kong has reported no new confirmed case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the last five days. Today�s zero infection also marked the 32nd day in a row on which the number of case has fallen below five since May 16.

Since June 11, twelve more patients recovered and were discharged from Hong Kong�s hospitals, including three on June 12, another three on June 13, two on June 14 and 4 on June 15. No patient was discharged today. The total number of recovered discharged patients was 1,386.

The number of SARS patients in intensive care unit at present is 15. These cases are part of the 42 cases under treatment in hospitals. Most of the patients are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol. In addition, 32 are recovering patients in convalescence and in preparation for discharge.

Since June 11, four more patients died, including two female patients aged 73 (with chronic disease) and 70 who died on June 13, a 69-year-old female patient with a history of chronic disease who died on June 14 and a 43-year-old man who died on June 15. There is no fatality today. The cumulative total number of death relating to SARS remains at 295. This is the second time that Hong Kong recorded zero infection and zero death on the same day (the first time was on June 12).

Meanwhile, temperature checks for all passengers at the airport, ports and border points continue to be implemented to watch for travellers displaying symptoms of SARS. In addition, all incoming travellers are required to complete a health declaration. Three passengers were screened out during temperature checks at these points yesterday. All were released after undergoing further medical checks.