Warning over virus as two patients take a turn for the worse

Two people have developed severe complications after contracting the swine flu virus, prompting a leading medical expert to issue a stern warning that it would be a 'clear mistake' if the government treated the new disease like seasonal flu.

The Centre for Health Protection confirmed 78 new swine flu cases yesterday, taking the total to 1,467. Fifteen patients were still in hospital.

A 34-year-old man, who developed fever and flu symptoms last Thursday, was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on Saturday for isolation. His condition became serious yesterday.

A 48-year-old woman, a smoker, was in critical condition and on a respirator in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Preliminary tests confirmed she had swine flu. She developed flu symptoms last Thursday and was admitted to hospital yesterday suffering from fever, shortness of breath and a cough.

Neither patient has any underlying diseases.

Yuen Kwok-yung, head of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, said last night that Hong Kong would see more severe swine flu cases and even deaths as the community outbreaks continued. Professor Yuen said swine flu was more virulent than seasonal flu. 'It will be a clear mistake if the government treats it like a seasonal flu,' he said.

Overseas studies have found that the A(H1N1) virus, which causes swine flu, multiplies more effectively in the lungs than the ordinary flu virus.