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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 21):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 1,010 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 326 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 8,535 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, 58 cases are in stable condition, three in serious and nine in critical condition.
The newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 72-year-old male patient of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). The patient developed flu symptoms on August 17, he was admitted to isolation ward via Accident and Emergency Department of PWH on August 19. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed on August 20. The patient received Tamiflu and antibiotics. His condition deteriorated today and is on ventilation support. The patient has a history of chronic airway disease and the hospital will closely monitor his condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included 19 staff members of public hospitals (six male and 13 female, including four doctors, 10 nurses/student nurses, two allied health professional and three supporting staff). So far there were 241 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 139 have already recovered and returned to work.
On the other hand, hospital records reveal that there is one more critical patient (70-year-old, male) who has been tested positive for Influenza A (H3) and is currently under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Yan Chai 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/Friday, August 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:31
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