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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 3):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5.00pm) provide treatment to a total of 995 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 492 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 12,948 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 111 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 94 cases are in stable condition, seven in serious and 10 in critical condition.
The newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 52-year-old female patient in Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of PWH for flu symptoms today (3 September). Her condition deteriorated and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. The patient was prescribed Tamiflu and on ventilation support. The test result for human swine influenza is confirmed positive today. The hospital will closely monitor her condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included 13 staff members of public hospitals (two male and 11 female, including six nurses/nursing students, four clerical staff and three supporting staff). So far there were 408 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 284 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.
On the other hand, hospital records showed that a 94-year-old female patient with chronic disease was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for fever on 28 August. She was later confirmed positive for Influenza A (H3) and died on 1 September. Another case is a 75-year-old male patient with chronic disease who was admitted to United Christian Hospital on 23 August. He was confirmed Influenza A (H3) on 24 August and died today (3 September).
Ends/Thursday, September 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:33
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