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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) today (October 2) provided the following wrap up of the past week:
In the past week (September 25 ¡V October 1), a total of 7,574 patients with flu-like symptoms attended the Designated Flu Clinics.
Among all confirmed human swine influenza patients, 245 confirmed patients are now staying in public hospitals for treatment, with 223 in stable condition, eight in serious and 14 in critical condition. Since the first fatal case of human swine influenza recorded in Hong Kong in July this year, there have been 25 confirmed human swine influenza patients who have died in public hospitals.
Furthermore, the newly confirmed cases in the past week included 120 staff members of public hospitals (37 male and 83 female, including 11 doctors, 45 nurses, 18 allied health professionals, 20 administrative/clerical staff and 24 supporting staff). So far there were 800 HA staff members being confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 632 have already recovered and returned to work.
The HA spokesman reminded the public that the test for human swine influenza is not routine now because the treatment of patients would not depend on the outcome of the test. Under normal circumstances, both DFCs and Accident & Emergency Departments will only conduct laboratory tests for human swine influenza on the following specific groups of patients:
* Pregnant women
* Children at or under 12-month-old
* Healthcare workers including staff from residential homes
* Patients living in institutions without outbreak
* Influenza patients with persistent fever (over 38¢XC) or whose condition deteriorate 48 hours after treatment
Public hospitals and clinics will only prescribe symptom control medication to influenza patients with mild condition. Patients can consider seeking consultation first with private hospitals and clinics.
Ends/Friday, October 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:03
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