Macau recorded this year’s fifth case of Legionnaires’ disease yesterday, the Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement last night.
According to the statement, the patient is an 80-year-old local man. He came down with a fever and cough on Wednesday last week, after which he sought treatment at a public health centre.
As his symptoms persisted and he began to develop shortness of breath, the statement said, he sought treatment at the private Kiang Wu Hospital on Tuesday where he was diagnosed with double pneumonia and respiratory failure, after which he was transferred to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre where he was hospitalised.
According to the statement, the man tested positive for Legionella pneumophila at the public hospital yesterday, because of which he was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.
Last night’s statement said that the man was in a stable condition, adding that his fever had gone.
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.
