Health Bureau records 10th imported case of dengue fever

The Health Bureau (SSM) has diagnosed a 10th imported case of dengue fever in a female resident who travelled to Pattaya and Bangkok earlier this month.

The local resident living in the Fai Chi Kei area experienced fevers, joint pains and muscle aches on Saturday and underwent testing at Kiang Wu Hospital.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the woman had dengue fever. She is still in hospital.

According to the SSM, the bureau will eliminate mosquitoes from the patient’s residential area and call on residents to take measures against mosquitoes.

This year, a total of 10 imported cases of dengue fever have been diagnosed so far: four cases from Cambodia, two cases from Malaysia, one from the Philippines, one from Singapore and two from Thailand.

The SSM is reminding health staff to be on alert for patients suspected of having dengue fever, and to proceed with the provisional diagnosis and tests in due time.

Meanwhile, health authorities have detected a second case of Legionella infection in a patient at Kiang Wu Hospital and have begun an epidemiological investigation.

The infection was diagnosed in a 41-year- old resident with a history of asthma. 

On July 10, the man had symptoms of fever, chills, headaches and shortness of breath despite medical treatment.

After his symptoms remained consistent for several days, his chest was imaged and he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

On Tuesday, after a laboratory testing of his urine samples confirmed that the patient was infected with Legionella pneumophila.

As the patient did not leave Macau, the SSM stated that it is investigating the source of the infection.

Individuals may be infected with Legionella by inhaling contaminated water droplets. The incubation period is generally between two to 10 days.

The SSM has called on the public to conduct preventive measures, including maintaining a sanitary water supply system, and ensuring that water filtering apparatus and humidifiers are clean.

Additionally, another cluster of enterovirus infections has been found at a kindergarten of The Women’s General Association of Macau, with six children affected by hand, foot and mouth disease.

The SSM has said that it has already taken samples for laboratory analysis and the indications for the daycare have been reinforced so that infection control measures can be implemented, such as cleaning and disinfection of the facility.

Hand, foot and mouth disease usually affects children under the age of five. The incubation period ranges from three to seven days, and the virus is transmitted through contact with infected stool, saliva droplets or contaminated surfaces. LV