Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long said yesterday during an inter-departmental press conference on the government’s response to the influenza (flu) peak that the virus is currently active and has entered its peak period. In the past week, he said, the daily average number of residents visiting medical institutions’ emergency departments exceeded 1,300 people.
According to Dr Lo, 1,000 of the patients were adults and 300 were children, 125 of whom had flu symptoms. The flu virus positive rate has risen by 6.2 percent per week, reaching 22.3 percent. Among them, the H1N1 subtype accounts for more than 90 percent, consistent with the situation in the mainland and Hong Kong, Dr Lo noted.
In response to the flu, Dr Lo noted that this weekend the bureau will cooperate with over 10 social organisations and medical institutions to set up 15 community flu prevention consultation stations across the city. Lo noted that the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre has established a multi-point trigger monitoring and early warning mechanism, which will mobilise medical personnel to meet the health consultation needs of the residents.
Multi-point trigger monitoring refers to a system or process used to track and analyse events or conditions at multiple designated points.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai said that as of Sunday, the flu vaccine inoculation rate for children in childcare facilities stood at 60 percent, and for residents of elderly care homes it was 80 percent. Hon noted that the bureaux will hold a coordination meeting with social service institutions to provide professional training on flu prevention and enhance their response capabilities.
Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) Deputy Director Wong Ka Ki noted that they will hold a meeting with all local schools in Macau before the Chinese New Year holiday, to remind schools to maintain a clean and hygienic campus environment and strengthen health education.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Bureau, noted that to cope with the flu peak, the authorities have purchased 198,000 doses of vaccine and 174,000 people have already been vaccinated, a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent in the vaccination rate.
She noted that all Macau residents can receive the flu vaccine for free, while non-resident workers (NRWs) and non-local students can go to Kiang Wu Hospital and the Workers’ Medical Clinic to receive the government-subsidised vaccine.
Dr Leong said that the vaccine needs at least two weeks after inoculation to reach its maximum effectiveness. She pointed out that the Chinese New Year is approaching soon, and called on the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible. She also advised citizens to take precautions when travelling, and seek medical attention promptly if flu symptoms occur.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Bureau, addresses yesterday’s inter-departmental press conference on the response to the current influenza (flu) situation.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long addresses yesterday’s inter-departmental press conference on the response to the influenza (flu) situation. – Photos: William Chan
