Health | SSM investigating isolated ‘legionella’ case

The Health Bureau (SSM) has released a statement, informing the public of their current investigation of the allegedly isolated case of “legionella pneumophila,” the bacteria responsible for the Legionnaires’ disease.

According to the Bureau, on “December 5, [the SSM] detected an isolated case of legionella pneumophila and subsequently conducted a detailed epidemiological investigation, collecting samples of water suspected of contamination.”

The patient, who lives in the Mei Keng Building, a five storey building, located near Luís de Camões Square, had no history of recent travel or a recent visit to the local hotel where legionella was found recently (The Parisian Macao) or the commercial area adjacent to the venue that was recently affected by the bacteria outbreak during the legionella incubation period.
The SSM also informed that on December 7, samples were collected at the water outlet points of the bathroom and kitchen in the patient’s apartment and in three other apartments in the same building. They noted that the water supply system to the building runs directly from the public water supply network system and concluded that residents of other buildings should not be worried.

Since the building on the line is located near the Luís de Camões Garden, the SSM also collected water samples for analysis in the artificial waterfall and fountains of the garden and the preliminary results are expected to be known within two weeks’ time.
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) has also taken preventive measures in the garden, suspending the operation of the waterfall and fountains.