*****************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 26) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) involving a 78-year-old man.
The male patient, with chronic illness living in Wong Tai Sin, presented with weakness on April 22. He developed fever on April 23 and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on the same day. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. He is receiving intensive care in critical condition.
A urine sample test revealed that the patient was infected with Legionella bacteria.
The patient has no recent travel history and his family contacts are asymptomatic.
Investigations by the CHP are proceeding.
This is the sixth LD case reported to the CHP this year. Twenty-eight cases were filed in 2012, 17 in 2011 and 20 in 2010.
The public may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk) for more information on LD and corresponding preventive advice.
Ends/Friday, April 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:35
NNNN
