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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 18) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) affecting a 65-year-old woman.
The patient, with good past health, presented with coughing, shortness of breath and fever since July 11 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital on July 14. Her condition deteriorated upon admission and she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit yesterday (July 17).
The clinical diagnosis was severe pneumonia and she is currently in a serious condition.
Her urine sample tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 upon laboratory testing.
Preliminary enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient travelled to Shanghai from May to July.
She has no home contacts. The CHP's investigations are proceeding.
This is the ninth LD case reported to the CHP this year. Twenty-eight cases were filed in 2012, 17 in 2011 and 20 in 2010.
The public may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/2117.html) for further information on LD and corresponding preventive advice.
Ends/Thursday, July 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:12
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