A local woman, 80, was admitted on Monday to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre’s intensive care unit (ICU) with acute respiratory failure resulting from influenza A, requiring ventilatory support, according to a statement by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday.
The chronically ill victim developed symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath on February 29 and was hospitalised at the private Kiang Wu Hospital last Monday after coming down with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the statement said, adding that the patient was transferred to the public hospital on Saturday due to kidney failure, where she was diagnosed with influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)* infection.
The statement noted that the septuagenarian has yet to receive a 2023-2024 seasonal influenza vaccination, while her family members did not show similar symptoms.
Meanwhile, the bureau announced yesterday four cluster infections of influenza-like illnesses, involving 14 male and 14 female students in four non-tertiary education schools.
The statement underlined that the cluster flu infectees suffering from upper respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough last Wednesday have undergone treatment at local medical institutions, and none of them suffered from serious illness or other serious complications.
* Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalisation. – Source: CDC
This poster from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the most common flu symptoms.
