Macau recorded this year’s fourth case of Legionnaires’ disease yesterday, the Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement last night.
According to the statement, the patient is a 23-year-old local woman. She came down with a fever and cough on Thursday last week, after which she sought treatment at a private clinic two days later.
As her symptoms persisted, the statement said, the patient sought treatment at the University Hospital of the private Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Taipa on Monday.
The woman, who tested positive for Legionella pneumophila, was suffering from pneumonia in her left lung when she underwent tests at the hospital, the statement noted.
Legionella pneumophila is a species of Legionella bacteria.
The statement said that the woman was not hospitalised as her fever had already gone.
The University Hospital reported the case to the Health Bureau yesterday.
According to the statement, the woman told the Health Bureau that she did not travel outside Macau during the incubation period. None of her family members living with her had come down with similar symptoms.
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, jacuzzis, 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.
This poster drawn up by Hong Kong’s Prevention of Legionnaires’ Disease Committee, downloaded from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s (EMSD) website yesterday, lays out details on the disease.
