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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 (September 1):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 930 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 328 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 12,135 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 96 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 81 cases are in stable condition, six in serious and nine in critical condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included 12 staff members of public hospitals (four male and eight female, including two doctors, six nurses/nursing students, one allied health professional and three supporting staff). So far there were 380 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 258 have already recovered and returned to work.
On the other hand, hospital records reveal that there are two more critical patients (male, aged 75 and 73), who have been tested positive for Influenza A (H3), are currently under treatment in United Christian Hospital (UCH) and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
At the same time, the test result available today was positive for Influenza A(H3) for a 92-year-old male patient who was admitted to UCH on August 5 and died on August 10.
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/Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:30
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