Big Medicine

Hong Kong--The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority today (December 18) announced a fatal case of human swine influenza (HSI):

A 24-year-old female patient with good past health developed fever and chest discomfort on December 9. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital on December 16 and was admitted to the isolation ward for further treatment. Positive result of HSI was confirmed yesterday (December 17) and she was prescribed Tamiflu and antibiotics. With rapid deterioration of her condition the same day, she was transferred to the Cardiac Care Unit and was put on ventilation support. The patient passed away at 7.46pm yesterday. The case will be referred to the coroner for follow-up. The hospital would like to express our condolences to the patient's family. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection.