January sees over 2,500 communicable disease cases

The Health Bureau (SSM) has reported 2,529 cases of notifiable communicable diseases for January.

The top three diseases with the highest number of reported cases were influenza, scarlet fever, and norovirus infection.

Influenza cases saw a notable decrease of 30.9%, with 2,190 cases recorded in January compared to 3,170 in the same month of 2024.

However, the number of cases doubled compared to December 2024.

This respiratory illness remains most prevalent in the winter and spring, with influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B being the most common strains in Macau.

According to the SSM, seasonal vaccination is recommended as the primary method of prevention.

Scarlet fever cases, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, dropped by 55.7%, with 97 cases in January 2025, compared to 219 in January 2024. However, this was an increase of 12.8% from the previous month.

The disease primarily affects children between two and eight years old and is highly contagious. Early antibiotic treatment is crucial to prevent complications, including rheumatic fever and kidney disease.

Norovirus infections saw a significant rise, with 82 reported cases in January 2025, marking a 2.4-fold increase from 24 cases in January 2024.

Despite this, cases sharply decreased by 53.4% compared to December 2024. Norovirus, a leading cause of gastrointestinal illness, spreads through contaminated food, water, or contact with infected individuals.