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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 4) investigating a case of Legionnaires' Disease involving a 65-year-old man.
The patient, with good past health, presented with headache, cough, fever and muscle pain since April 24. He sought medical consultation from a private doctor on April 26 and from a Chinese medical practitioner on April 30. As symptoms persisted, he sought medical consultation at United Christian Hospital on May 1¡@and was admitted on the same day. He is now in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
His urine tested positive for Legionella bacteria antigen.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the patient travelled to Shenzhen in mid-April. His close contact was asymptomatic.
This is the sixth case of Legionnaires' Disease reported to the CHP this year. Seventeen cases were filed in 2011, 20 in 2010 and 37 in 2009.
Information on Legionnaires' Disease and advice on prevention can be found on the CHP's website, www.chp.gov.hk .
Ends/Friday, May 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:37
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