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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the eight Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) and the confirmed human swine influenza patients admitted to public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman provided the following updates today (September 6):
The Designated Flu Clinics today (as at 5pm) provide treatment to a total of 725 patients with flu-like symptoms.
As at 2.30pm today, there were 384 newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza in the past 24 hours. This brings to 14,077 the total number of confirmed human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. Currently, a total of 172 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 153 cases are in stable condition, ten in serious and nine in critical condition.
Furthermore, the confirmed cases announced today included 4 staff members of public hospitals (two male and two female, including three nurses and one allied health professional).
The newly confirmed critical case announced today is a 37-year-old man in the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH). The patient developed flu symptoms on Sep 1 and was admitted to the isolation ward via the A&E Department of the hospital on Sep 5. Positive result of human swine influenza was confirmed that day. He was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. His condition deteriorated later that day and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. He is on ventilation support. The patient has well past health history. The hospital will closely monitor his condition.
On the other hand, hospital records reveal that there are two Influenza A (H3) death cases, a 73-year-old male patient was certified dead at yesterday in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, and a 20-year-old male patient was certified dead today in North District Hospital.
The HA spokesman reminded the public that HA has progressively resumed service for chronic patients with scheduled appointment at the eight designated flu clinics (DFC). Chronic patients who have been pre-scheduled for follow up at the DFCs should go to the clinics according to their date of original appointment, bringing along the appointment slip and Identity Card. Other general outpatient services such as episodic disease, injection and wound care will not be resumed at these DFCs for the time being. Patients with other illnesses are advised to seek medical treatment at other general outpatient clinics in the district or private practitioners.
Ends/Sunday, September 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:08
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