Macau has recorded this year’s fourth case of pertussis, aka whooping cough, the Health Bureau (SSM) has announced.
According to an SSM statement on Friday, the patient is a 71-year-old local man inflicted with chronic diseases. He came down with a cough on March 3, after which he sought treatment at a medical institution, which the statement did not identify.
As his cough persisted, the statement said, the patient sought treatment at the private Kiang Wu Hospital on Wednesday last week where he was then hospitalised.
According to the statement, the man, who tested positive for pertussis, was suffering from pneumonia in his left lung.
The man, a retiree, was in a stable condition at the time of Friday’s statement.
Kiang Wu Hospital reported the case to the Health Bureau on Friday.
According to the statement, the man visited Shanghai and Hainan province during the incubation period. He told the Health Bureau that he had not been in contact with children nor other individuals who felt unwell.
The statement warned that without receiving proper treatment, pertussis can be fatal.
The statement noted that antibiotics are effective in treating pertussis provided that they are used early after the onset of the symptoms.
The statement noted that vaccinations are the most effective way for pertussis prevention. The statement also pointed out that the local government’s regular vaccination programme requires every child to receive a DTaP jab when they are two months, four months, six months, 18 months and five years old.
The statement underlined that pertussis is rare in Macau because of the government’s regular vaccination programme.
However, the statement said, the incidence rates of pertussis have been gradually increasing in various countries and regions worldwide over the past decade, adding that one of the possible reasons is that pregnant women and other adults’ levels of antibodies against pertussis have been gradually declining because of a decrease in natural infections over the period.
All of this year’s first three pertussis patients are babies or small children.
Macau reported one pertussis case last year.
Macau did not record any pertussis cases in 2021 and 2022. One case was recorded in 2020, while three cases were confirmed in 2019.
Macau logs this year’s 2nd Legionnaires’ disease
Meanwhile, the Health Bureau announced a case of Legionnaires’ disease last week, this year’s second one.
According to an SSM statement on Tuesday last week, the patient is a 37-year-old local man. He came down with a fever and cough on March 24, after which he sought treatment at Kiang Wu Hospital two days later. As his symptoms persisted, the man sought treatment again at the hospital on March 28 where he was then hospitalised.
The man, who tested positive for Legionella pneumophila, was suffering from pneumonia in his right lung, the statement said.
Legionella pneumophila is a species of Legionella bacteria.
The man was in a stable condition at the time of last Tuesday’s statement.
During the incubation period, the statement said, the man visited Hong Kong and Guangdong province’s Zhongshan city with his family members. None of his family members living with him had come down with similar symptoms, the statement said.
The statement noted that people can be infected with Legionnaires’ disease after inhaling mist contaminated with Legionella bacteria released by artificial water systems such as central air-conditioning systems’ cooling towers, massage pools, fountains, and household respiratory medical devices.
The statement underlined that people normally will not be infected with the disease after drinking water contaminated with the bacteria.
The statement noted that antibiotics are effective in treating Legionnaires’ disease provided that they are used early after the onset of the illness.
Poster courtesy of CDC
