A 52-year-old man was put under isolation care for pneumonia today (23 April), announced the Health Bureau.

According to the Health Bureau, the patient has traveled to Hong Kong on 12 April and has returned on the same day. He has started to have fever and soar throat on 20 April and had consulted a doctor who practices in a private clinic the following day.

He went to the Kiang Wu Hospital on 23 April as symptoms sustained despite medication and was found to have a fever of 38ºC. As X-ray images had revealed signs of pneumonia, possibility of SARS could not be ruled out although white bloods cells counts appeared to rise and he was sent to the Conde S. Januario Hospital for isolation care.

Samples of his sputum and excrement would be sent for PCR testing in Hong Kong, said the Health Bureau.

The Patient, who works in a commercial company was on holiday since two days before the symptoms started and thus his co-workers did not need to be isolated, according to the Health Bureau, adding that although all five members of his family and a housekeeper were arranged to be isolated at home although they were all in good health.

The Education and Youth Bureau would also ensure that his children would not attend school during the isolation period.