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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 (19 August):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 960 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 345 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 7,906 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 70 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 60 cases are in stable condition, three in serious and seven in critical condition.
The newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 50-year-old man in the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH). The patient developed flu symptom on 14 August and was admitted to the isolation ward via the Accident and Emergency Department of AHNH on 17 August. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed on 18 August. He was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. His condition deteriorated today and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. He is on ventilation support. The hospital will closely monitor his condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included eight pupil nurses and one staff member of Kowloon Hospital Nursing School which held the last class on 14 August. As a precautionary measure, all clinical attachment of the same class, comprising 85 pupil nurses, has been suspended immediately. Medical surveillance will be conducted for all the pupils. Chemoprophylaxis will be recommended to asymptomatic pupils while rapid tests on human swine flu will be performed on symptomatic cases followed by prescription of antivirals.
Other confirmed cases of public hospital staff members (seven male and 13 female) include three doctors, 12 nurses, one allied health professional, one clerical and three supporting staff. So far there were 203 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 128 have already recovered and returned to work.
On the other hand, hospital records reveal that there is one more critical patient (79-year-old, male) who has been tested positive for Influenza A (H3) and is currently under treatment in the intensive care unit of Tuen Mun Hospital.
The HA spokesman reminded the public that HA has progressively resumed service for chronic patients with scheduled appointment at the eight designated flu clinics (DFC). Chronic patients who have been pre-scheduled for follow up at the DFCs should go to the clinics according to their date of original appointment, bringing along the appointment slip and Identity Card. Other general outpatient services such as episodic disease, injection and wound care will not be resumed at these DFCs for the time being. Patients with other illnesses are advised to seek medical treatment at other general outpatient clinics in the district or private practitioners.
Ends/Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:26
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