**********************************************
A spokesman for the Department of Health said there had been 29 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) in the 24 hours to 2.30pm today (July 2).
The new cases involve 16 males and 13 females, aged between 4 and 49.
This brings to 857 the total number of human swine influenza cases (HSI) in Hong Kong.
The Department of Health has so far advised 42 secondary schools with confirmed HSI cases to suspend classes or start summer break in order to stop the possible spread of the disease in the schools.
Among the schools are Queen Elizabeth School (QES) in Mong Kok, Sing Yin Secondary School (SYSS) in Lam Tin and Tsung Tsin Christian Academy (TTCA) in Sham Shui Po which will start summer break tomorrow.
A 15-year-old Form Four male student of QES, a 17-year-old Form Six male student of SYSS, a 13-year-old Form Two female student and a 15-year-old Form Four male student of TTCA were confirmed to be infected with HSI. They had onset of influenza symptoms on June 26, June 27, June 17 and June 29 respectively.
The four students are among the 857 confirmed HSI cases.
The spokesman said that operating hours of the department's hotline for human swine influenza 2125 1111 was from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday including public holidays.
"Callers ringing the hotline outside the operating hours may leave a message on the voice mailbox," he said.
Ends/Thursday, July 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:31
NNNN
