Press Release - May 8, 2003

The following is jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority:

In Hong Kong, a total of 1008 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 24 were discharged today (May 8). There are now 445 patients in hospital, of whom 91 are recovering patients who are in convalescence and preparation for discharge.

As at 1 pm today, there is an additional 7 patients confirmed to have atypical pneumonia following admission to public hospitals earlier. They include two healthcare workers (one from Prince of Wales Hospital and one from Tuen Mun Hospital). The remaining five are other patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.

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

Four patients died in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). This brought to 208 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong.

The deceased include four women aged from 60 to 100. Their information is as follows: