A 45-year-old man died of influenza Type B yesterday, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement, the local resident suffered from cancer. He came down with a fever and cough on New Year’s Eve, and was taken to the private Kiang Wu Hospital by his family after he suffered breathing difficulties and cardiac arrest.
The statement said he tested positive for the influenza Type B at the emergency department of the private Kiang Wu Hospital and his chest radiograph showed double lung exudation. He was diagnosed with laryngeal obstruction and severe pneumonia with influenza Type B, the statement said.
Due to his deteriorating condition, the patient was later admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment and needed to use a ventilator to maintain breathing, the statement said. He passed away yesterday.
The bureau pointed out that the patient had not received the 2023/24 winter seasonal flu shot.
According to the statement, he travelled to other places and returned to Macau on Saturday before he became ill, and his family members did not develop similar symptoms.
The statement did not reveal where the patient had travelled.
Meanwhile, last night’s statement also announced that two flu-like cluster cases were reported yesterday, involving a total of 18 students, comprising middle school and primary school students. No severe cases were reported, the statement said.
Illustration by Mira Norian – Image courtesy of VeryWell Health
