Press Release - May 1, 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 834 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 43 were discharged today (May 1). There are also 102 recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 11 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers (from Prince of Wales Hospital). The remaining 9 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. Eighty-eight patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Five patients died in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), Wong Tai Sin Hospital(WTSH) and Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH). This brought to 162 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include five men who are aged from 34 to 83. Their information is as follows: