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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a confirmed case of Legionnaires' Disease.
The patient is an 81-year-old woman with underlying medical conditions. The patient presented with fever, chills, cough with sputum, difficult breathing and diarrhoea since June 21 and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on June 23. She is now in critical condition.
Her home contacts are asymptomatic.
Urine tests revealed that the patient was infected with Legionella bacteria.
A total of 15 cases of Legionnaires' Disease have been reported to CHP this year. Thirty-seven cases were reported in 2009, 13 in 2008 and 11 in 2007.
Information on Legionnaires' Disease and advice on prevention can be found on the CHP's website, www.chp.gov.hk .
Ends/Thursday, June 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:43
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