Hong Kong government's Department of Health confirmed 108 new cases of influenza A/H1N1 in the past 24 hours up to 2:30 PM on Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,748 in the city.

The new cases involved 59 males and 49 females, aged between six months and 62 years, said the department.

Currently, a total of 32 confirmed cases are staying in public hospitals for treatment. Among them, 26 cases are in stable condition, two in serious and four in critical conditions.

The condition of the 23-year-old female patient at Prince of Wales Hospital has changed from serious to critical and she now requires intubation and ventilatory support.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2009)