Health officials on Tuesday confirmed that an oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital died last Friday of a suspected E. coli infection involving hospital staff.

Two other oncologists showed symptoms such as fever, stomach pain and diarrhoea. They are in stable condition, and one of them has been discharged.

One faeces sample tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, while the other two samples, including from the deceased oncologist, came up negative for the bacteria.

The Centre for Health Protection and microbiologists from the University of Hong Kong are searching for the infection’s origin.

Albert Au, the head of the centre's communicable disease branch said food is one possible source of infection, but the three doctors did not eat the same food or visit the same restaurant.

However, they ate in the same staff lounge.

“Another possibility would be human-to-human transmission in an infectious environment,” Au said.

“We have collected over 40 environmental samples from the Department of Oncology office and toilets. We are waiting for the results to confirm whether there was a cross infection due to the environment,” he added.

University of Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said it is rare to see an adult die from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and pointed out that the deceased doctor was healthy with no underlying illnesses.

He called on other hospital staff who felt unwell not to take medicine without proper guidance, especially antibiotics, as it could worsen their condition.

The hospital has sanitised possible areas of infection, and asked its staff to seek a doctor if they feel unwell.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau expressed sadness over the oncologist’s death.

In a statement released late on Tuesday, Lo said the doctor “was still taking care of patients in the ward right before the onset of symptoms”.

“I am deeply moved by the doctor's professionalism, passion for work and care for patients,” Lo said, describing the young doctor as a role model for the healthcare profession.

“The Centre for Health Protection…is conducting epidemiological and environmental investigations into the incident at full strength, and will submit a report and give an account to the public as early as possible," he added.
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Last updated: 2025-02-11 HKT 21:41