************************************************************
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 26):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5.00pm) provide treatment to a total of 1,033 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 333 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 10,089 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 100 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 84 cases are in stable condition, 5 in serious and 11 in critical condition.
One of the newly confirmed critical cases announced today is a 65-year-old male patient of the North District Hospital (NDH). On 24 August, the patient returned from Mainland China and developed flu symptoms, he attended the Accident & Emergency Department of NDH on the same day and was admitted to isolation ward. On 25 August, the patient was confirmed to be positive result of human swine influenza, he was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. His condition deteriorated on the evening of the same day, he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and was put on ventilation immediately. The patient had history of asthma, pneumonia and heart failure, and is in critical condition now.
The second newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 43-year-old female patient of Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH). The patient developed flu symptom on 23 August and attended the Designated Flu Clinic on 24 August. The patient attended the Accident & Emergency Department of TMH on 26 August and was admitted to Isolation Ward. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed on the same day (26 August). The patient received Tamiflu and antibiotics treatment. Her condition deteriorated today (26 August) and she has been transferred to Intensive Care Unit and on ventilation support. The patient is a chronic smoker. The hospital will closely monitor her condition.
The third newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 52-year-old woman in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH). The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of PYNEH for fever, cough and shortness of breath on 25 August and was then admitted to medical ward for further management. Her condition deteriorated at night on the same day and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed today (26 August) and she was prescribed Tamiflu and antibiotics. The hospital will closely monitor her condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included seven staff members of public hospitals (three male and four female, including two doctors and five nurses). So far there were 295 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 197 have already recovered and returned to work.
On the other hand, hospital records reveal that the result was positive for Influenza A (H3) for an 85-year-old male patient who was admitted to NDH on 22 August and died on 24 August.
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 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:10
NNNN
