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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 2) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) involving a 50-year-old man.
The patient, with an underlying medical condition, presented with fever and cough since March 22. He sought medical consultation at Prince of Wales Hospital on March 28 and was admitted on the same day. He was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on March 31. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he is currently in a critical condition.
His urine sample tested positive for serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophilia antigen.
The patient's home contacts are asymptomatic. An investigation by the CHP is under way.
This is the second LD case reported to the CHP this year. Twenty-eight cases were filed in 2012, 17 in 2011 and 20 in 2010.
For further information on LD and corresponding preventive advice, the public may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:16
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