Macau recorded this year’s eleventh case of Legionnaires’ disease yesterday, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement.
According to the statement, the patient is a 70-year-old local man suffering from chronic illnesses. He developed a fever, cough, and shortness of breath on Thursday but did not seek medical attention.
The man’s fever subsided on Sunday, but the cough persisted, and he experienced dizziness the same day. He was subsequently taken by ambulance to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and Legionnaires’ disease.
The statement said that the patient remains hospitalised for treatment, and his condition is critical.
The statement pointed out that Legionellosis, with an incubation period of between two and 10 days, is an infectious disease caused by Legionella bacteria thriving in warm water between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius and in warm and moist places, such as artificial water systems including jacuzzis, fountains, and household respiratory medical equipment.
The statement noted that people can be infected with Legionnaires’ disease after inhaling mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria released by artificial water systems such as central air-conditioning systems’ cooling towers, jacuzzis, fountains, and household respiratory medical devices.
The statement underlined that males, senior citizens, smokers, drinkers and those with weakened immune systems, especially those with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung or kidney disease, and patients receiving steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs are at increased risk of catching the disease.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, according to the statement.
Image courtesy of California Department of Public Health
