Press release - May 11, 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 1059 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 24 were discharged today (May 11). There are now 404 patients in hospital, of whom 78 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 4 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier.

Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the treatment protocol. Sixty-three patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.

Three patients died in Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and United Christian Hospital (UCH). This brought to 215 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include a man and two women. Their information is as follows: