The 61-year-old male Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse worker hospitalised December 30 for pneumonia was discharged today. Preliminary microbiological tests on him found pneumococcus and the parainfluenza virus, common respiratory pathogens that can cause pneumonia.

Centre for Health Protection Community Medicine Consultant Dr Thomas Tsang said test results on the 44-year-old pig farmer, who died of a pneumonia-like illness last month, and 23 specimens from local pig farms will be available in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, a meat delivery vehicle supervisor from the slaughterhouse was admitted to North District Hospital today. The 69-year-old man went to Zhuhai and Panyu and Guangzhou last month, and came down with cough. He is now in stable condition. His family contacts are asymptomatic.

Retrospective review

Dr Tsang said a retrospective review from May to December is being conducted on Hospital Authority records to identify pig farmers who had been hospitalised with pneumonia.

"With all the enhanced surveillance measures and record reviews, it is expected that some more cases of pneumonia among pig farmers may be uncovered in the process," he said.

There is an average of 4,000 pneumonia deaths in Hong Kong a year. The number of hospitalisations due to pneumonia every year is about 40,000.

The Centre for Health Protection's hotline 2125 1133 for pig farmers has so far received nine calls, with only one requiring follow-up action. A forum will be held at the centre tomorrow to update pig farmers and live pig handlers' on the situation and offer health advice.