***********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the recent influenza situation in Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority (HA), in close collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, has activated the enhanced monitoring system for severe influenza patients staying at the intensive care unit of public hospitals. The HA spokesman today (February 18) announced that there were three newly confirmed Human Swine Influenza (HSI) cases, including a 58-year-old female HSI patient at Prince of Wales Hospital and a 56-year-old female HSI patient at Tuen Mun Hospital. Both patients are in critical condition. Another patient is a 29-year-old female patient at Caritas Medical Centre who is now in serious condition. Three patients were prescribed with Tamiflu.
Furthermore, three HSI patients were succumbed due to continued deterioration of clinical condition, including a 71-year-old male HSI patient at Prince of Wales Hospital, a 83-year-old male patient at Queen Mary Hospital and a 64-year-old female patient at Tuen Mun Hospital. The hospitals expressed their deep condolences to the patients' family.
As at 2pm today, there were a total of 27 influenza patients staying in the intensive care unit of public hospitals, including the newly confirmed HSI cases.
Ends/Friday, February 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:51
NNNN
