Health | Three local cases of dengue fever confirmed

The Health Bureau (SSM) announced yesterday that three cases of dengue fever had been contracted in Macau.

The SSM and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) held a joint press conference yesterday to alert citizens of the spread of dengue and educate the public on preventive measures.

The patients were a 68-year-old husband and his 58-year-old wife, as well as a 60-year-old man. All three lived in the same building at Rua da Praia do Manduco.

The patients were admitted to Kiang Wu Hospital at the end of July and were diagnosed with dengue fever. Their conditions are now stable.

At the press conference, SSM director Lei Chin Ion confirmed that the patients had all been infected in the same area of Macau.

SSM has carried out measures to chemically eliminate mosquitoes, but Lei encouraged citizens to actively prevent stagnant water from accumulating, as the government can only do so much to kill mosquitoes.

“The government has made efforts to inform the local community in the area to be aware of the dengue fever infection and to adopt anti-mosquito measures,” Lei stated. “Mosquitoes with dengue breed in stagnant water that can be found in old tires or lunchboxes thrown in the trash. The heat and heavy rain this year adds to the ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed,” he added.

IACM’s Department of Environment, Hygiene and Licensing Chief, Fong Vai Seng, said that the government’s extensive anti-dengue efforts include joint efforts to kill mosquitoes at 180 locations in Macau – including parks and public areas – and campaigns to raise public awareness of the breakout of dengue fever in Macau.

Fong added that IACM had held one such activity on May 20 at Iao Hon Park, featuring games and lucky draws for citizens to participate.

IACM will also hold talks for citizens to spread awareness of dengue fever, and urged citizens to carry out their own preventive measures.

SSM noted that there have been six suspected cases of dengue fever this year in Macau, three of which have been confirmed.