Press Release - May 6, 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 958 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 28 were discharged today (May 6). There are now 495 patients in hospital, of whom 89 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 9 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers from Baptist Hospital. The remaining 7 are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

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

Six patients died in Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH), Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), United Christian Hospital (UCH), Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) and Tai Po Hospital (TPH). This brought to 193 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia.

The deceased include four men and two women who are aged from 71 to 87. Their information is as follows: