Public hospitals announce the latest Human Swine Influenza critical cases
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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 announced the following update today (January 27):

     The United Christian Hospital (UCH) announced that a 48-year-old male patient, confirmed with Human Swine Influenza today, was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) this afternoon for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Treatment. QEH is one of the designated ECMO centres of the HA.  The patient is in critical condition and prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotic and requires ventilation support.  The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of the UCH yesterday (January 26) with fever and flu symptoms.  He was admitted for treatment and his condition deteriorated. The patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the UCH on the same day.

     In addition, a 42-year-old female patient confirmed with Human Swine Influenza today is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of Caritas Medical Centre (CMC). The patient, now in critical condition, is under Tamiflu and antibiotic treatment and also on ventilation support. The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.  The patient developed flu symptoms since January 23 and attended private practitioner before. She was admitted for treatment via Accident and Emergency Department of CMC this morning.

     Furthermore, a 61-year-old female patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital yesterday due to shortness of breath and cough.  She was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was confirmed with Human Swine Influenza today.  The patient, now in critical condition, is under Tamiflu and antibiotic treatment and also on ventilation support.  The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.

     As at 2pm today, there were a total of 18 influenza patients staying in the intensive care unit of public hospitals.  Four of the patients were newly reported today, and three of them were confirmed Human Swine Influenza cases as outlined above.

Ends/Thursday, January 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:51

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