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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) made the following announcement regarding the death of a critical human swine influenza patient today (September 1).
A 50-year-old man developed flu symptoms on August 14 and was admitted to the isolation ward via the Accident and Emergency Department of AHNH on August 17. Positive result of human swine influenza (HSI) was confirmed on August 18 and he was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. The patient, an obese person with a body mass index of 30 or above (ie.high-risk patient group for HSI). His condition deteriorated further on August 19 and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and put on ventilation support. The patient succumbed at 6:08 pm today (September 1).
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection. The healthcare team had all along been in close communication with the patient's family regarding the patient¡¦s condition. The hospital would like to express its sincere condolences to the patient's family.
Ends/Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:49
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