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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 24) investigating a critical case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) involving a 53-year-old man.
The patient, with good past health, presented with fever, shortness of breath, coughing and weakness on December 12. He was subsequently admitted to United Christian Hospital on December 19 and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit the following day (December 20). 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 had no recent travel history and his home contacts are asymptomatic. An investigation by the CHP is underway.
This is the 28th LD case reported to the CHP this year. Seventeen cases were filed in 2011, 20 in 2010 and 37 in 2009.
For further information on LD and corresponding preventive advice, the public may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, December 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:00
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