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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the recent 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 at the intensive care unit of public hospitals. The HA spokesman today (February 7) announced that there were four newly confirmed Human Swine Influenza (HSI) cases in critical condition over the last two days (February 6 and 7): two male patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (aged 55 and 61), a 16-year-old female patient at Princess Margaret Hospital and a 72-year-old male patient at Tseung Kwan O Hospital. They are being treated in the intensive care unit under Tamiflu treatment. Some are under ventilation support. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor their condition.
Furthermore, two critical HSI patients, including a 62-year-old male patient at Tseung Kwan O Hospital and a 53-year-old male patient at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, succumbed yesterday (February 6) due to continued deterioration of clinical condition. The hospitals would like to express their deep condolences to the patients' family.
As at 2pm today, there were a total of 35 influenza patients staying in the intensive care unit of public hospitals, including the above four newly confirmed HSI cases.
Ends/Monday, February 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:43
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