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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 (August 20):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 947 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 304 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 8,210 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 72 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 62 cases are in stable condition, two in serious and eight in critical condition.
The newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 58-year-old man in the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH). The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of AHNH yesterday (August 19) due to shortness of breath and was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed on the same day. He was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. He is on ventilation support. The patient has a history of chronic diseases. The hospital will closely monitor his condition.
Furthermore, there are two more pupil nurses of Kowloon Hospital Nursing School confirmed today. Similarly at Tuen Mun Hospital Nursing School, due to confirmation of human swine influenza case of two student nurses in the past few days, the concerned nursing school has suspended all clinical practices of the same class, comprising 121 student nurses. There are currently no newly confirmed cases at Tuen Mun Hospital Nursing School.
The confirmed cases of public hospital staff members (two males and 17 females) today include 11 nurses/nursing students, one allied health professional, three clerical and four supporting staff. So far there were 222 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 133 have already recovered and returned to work.
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/Thursday, August 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:59
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