The Star Online
Hong Kong officials launch investigation after SARS kills younger, fitter patients
HONG KONG (AP) - Health officials said Monday they were trying to figure out why six relatively young SARS patients with no aggravating illnesses have died in recent days.
Hong Kong has had 40 deaths from severe acute respiratory syndrome but many of the fatalities have been elderly people or patients suffering from other chronic health problems, such as heart disease or kidney disease.
But six of eight deaths reported over the weekend were people ranging in age from 35 to 52 and Hospital Authority spokeswoman Elinda Luk said Monday that officials were investigating what had happened.
The senior executive manager of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, Dr. Liu Shao-haei, told a news conference Sunday he was "unhappy'' to see deaths of the younger, fitter patients but offered no immediate explanation.
Hong Kong officials had said previously that most patients who had no aggravating health conditions seemed to respond well to a treatment of anti-viral drugs and steroids.
On a radio show Monday, Liu said some of the younger patients came to the hospital when they were already in a serious condition and their conditions worsened even after they received intensive care.
Luk said Monday that officials are trying to find out more, but she declined to elaborate.
Hong Kong has reported 1,150 SARS cases, and although 223 people have recovered and been discharged officials here have been unable to stop the spread of the disease. New cases have been cropping up daily in the double digits.
Speaking on another radio show Monday morning, the acting director of the Hospital Authority, Dr. Ko Wing-man, said researchers are studying other treatments, including some traditional Chinese medicines, but that they have been applied only on a small scale. |
