A total of 162 children aged between one and 15 from 16 creches, kindergartens and schools in Macau were diagnosed with influenza yesterday, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement.
According to the statement, one of the patients from the Creche S. João da Obra das Mães was hospitalised with pneumonia, while one patient from Pui Ching Middle School, one from Hou Kong Middle School (Primary School) and one from the Lou Hau High School (Workers’ Children High School) kindergarten were admitted to hospital with high fever.
Of the 162 cases, the statement noted, most were reported at Lou Hau Kindergarten, where 27 students caught the flu, followed by 25 at Tong Nam School and 13 from Hou Kong, were reported to be ill.
The statement stressed that infection control measures such as enhanced cleaning and disinfection have been implemented at the affected premises, and that the patients have been placed under strict isolation.
According to a separate statement on Monday, the bureau received a total of 242 cases of influenza in 19 schools with students aged between three and 15, including one teacher aged 50.
According to Monday’s statement, some of them have been treated at medical institutions, while seven had a high fever and required hospitalisation, and the rest were in stable condition with no serious symptoms.
The Health Bureau stresses that flu jabs are the most effective measure to prevent influenza, adding that pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases are more likely to develop serious complications or even die after being infected with the influenza virus. The bureau urged residents to get the seasonal influenza vaccination as soon as possible.
For more information, the public can visit the website of the Health Bureau at http://www.ssm.gov.mo/csr or call 2856 1122 during office hours.
