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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the current influenza situation in Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority (HA), in close collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, has activated the enhanced monitoring system for severe influenza patients staying in the intensive care units of public hospitals. The HA spokesman today (February 1) announced that there are two newly confirmed Human Swine Influenza (HSI) cases in critical condition, which included a 62-year-old male patient in Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals and a 55-year-old male patient in Pok Oi Hospital. They developed flu symptoms and were admitted to hospital for treatment on January 29 and 30 respectively. They are being treated in the intensive care unit under Tamiflu and antibiotic treatment, and are also on ventilation support. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor their condition.
Furthermore, two critical HSI patients, including a 60-year-old male patient at Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospital and a 70-year-old female patient at United Christian Hospital, succumbed today due to continued deterioration of clinical condition. The hospitals would like to express their deep condolences to the patients' families.
As at 2pm today, there were a total of 26 influenza patients staying in the intensive care unit of public hospitals, including the above two newly confirmed HSI cases.
Ends/Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:57
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