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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the 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 (March 7) announced that there were three newly confirmed Human Swine Influenza (HSI) cases over the past 72 hours (from March 4, 2pm to March 7, 2pm), including a 59-year-old male patient at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a 62-year-old female patient at Princess Margaret Hospital. Both patients are in critical condition with ventilation support. Another one is a 9-year-old boy at Kwong Wah Hospital. He is in stable condition. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor their condition.
Furthermore, a 61-year-old male patient at Kwong Wah Hospital and a 69-year-old male patient at Prince of Wales Hospital, both were confirmed HSI cases, succumbed due to continued deterioration of clinical condition. The hospitals expressed deep condolences to the patients' family.
As at 2pm today, there were a total of 9 influenza patients staying in the intensive care unit of public hospitals, including the above newly confirmed HSI cases.
Ends/Monday, March 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:52
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