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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the eight Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) and the confirmed human swine influenza patients admitted to public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman provided the following updates today (July 31):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 798 patients.
The HA spokesman reminded the public that the eight DFCs have ceased the provision of general outpatient services. Patients with other illnesses are advised to seek medical treatment at other general outpatient clinics in the district or private practitioners. Chronic patients who have been pre-scheduled for follow up at the eight DFCs should proceed to their corresponding clinics with drug refill service according to their date of original appointment and bring along the appointment slip and Identity Card.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 214 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 3,673 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 46 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 41 cases are in stable condition, two in serious (including a 48-year-old female patient of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who was reported earlier in critical condition) and three in critical condition.
Furthermore, the newly confirmed cases announced today including nine public hospital staff members – three female nurses of Queen Mary Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Castle Peak Hospital; a male and female clerical staff of Prince of Wales Hospital and Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital; a male and female supporting staff of Shatin Cheshire Home and Kwong Wah Hospital; a male doctor of Queen Mary Hospital and a male allied health staff of Caritas Medical Centre. Except the female supporting staff of Kwong Wah Hospital, others are prescribed with Tamiflu. They are now under isolation at home, all in stable condition. So far there were 64 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 36 have already recovered and returned to work.
Ends/Friday, July 31, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:46
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