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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 25):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 1,592 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 624 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 25,305 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 203 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 185 cases are in stable condition, eight in serious and 10 in critical condition.
There are two newly confirmed critical cases announced today, including a 37-year-old female patient with renal failure and beta thalassaemia major in Queen Mary Hospital, and a 51-year-old female patient with history of asthma in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. They were admitted to hospitals on September 21 and 24 due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding and influenza symptoms respectively. The test results for human swine influenza were subsequently confirmed and they were prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics and on ventilation support.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included 28 staff members of public hospitals (seven male and 21 female, including two doctors, 12 nurses, three allied health professionals, five clerks and six supporting staff). So far there were 708 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 557 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 DFCs. 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, September 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:41
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