Cause of infections still unknown after similar case is reported in Guangdong
Health chiefs are investigating the deaths of two Hong Kong pig farmers from acute pneumonia caused by an unknown infection.
The investigation was announced as a mainland paper reported that a pig farmer from Guangdong died of pneumonia on Tuesday and authorities there also had yet to find a cause.
A hotline to collect information about similar pneumonia cases was set up as health experts warned it was essential to track down the cause quickly and avoid another outbreak like Sars, which also began as a series of mysterious pneumonia cases.
Centre for Health Protection consultant Thomas Tsang Ho-fai confirmed yesterday that a 44-year-old pig farmer, surnamed Sin, had died in Northern Hospital on December 13 after developing a cough and high fever six days before. The cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by acute pneumonia.
Sin, who farmed at Man Kam To, visited the Pearl River Delta city of Dongguan last month and Queen Elizabeth Hospital early this month to visit another pig farmer who was being treated for pre-existing lung disease and kidney problems. His symptoms were not similar to Sin's.
