Macau recorded 1,832 notifiable infectious disease cases last month, with influenza remaining the most commonly reported disease, while influenza, scarlet fever, and salmonella infections registered the largest month-on-month decreases, according to a statement by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday.
The bureau noted that it regularly analyses and publishes monthly surveillance data to monitor infectious disease trends and raise public awareness of disease prevention. Under Macau’s mandatory notification mechanism, 45 categories of infectious diseases are required to be reported within the legally prescribed timeframe.
According to the statement, influenza accounted for the highest number of reported cases in August, with 1,506 cases, followed by 245 enterovirus infections and 20 cases of chickenpox.
However, influenza cases fell 38.7 percent month-on-month from 2,457 cases in July, although the August figure was about 1.4 times higher compared with 616 cases recorded in August last year, the bureau noted.
Scarlet fever cases dropped 57.1 percent from 14 in July to six last month, while salmonella infections fell 44.4 percent from 27 to 15 cases over the same period.
The bureau noted that scarlet fever mainly affects children aged between two and eight and is commonly transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact with oral or nasal secretions. If left untreated, it can lead to complications, including rheumatic fever, kidney disease, and pneumonia.
Salmonella infections can occur throughout the year but are more common between July and October. The infection can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, particularly raw or undercooked eggs, milk, and meat products.
The bureau also reported that no dengue fever or chikungunya cases were recorded last month.
The Health Bureau urged residents to strengthen personal protection measures to reduce the risk of influenza and other infectious diseases, including receiving a seasonal influenza vaccination, which it described as the most effective way to prevent influenza.
This infographic provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows how to prevent coming down with infectious respiratory diseases. The translation of the Chinese-language infographic was arranged by the Post.
