The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that a 63-year-old non-local resident has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease (aka Legionellosis), becoming this year’s 10th reported case.
According to the statement, the patient, who does not suffer from any chronic illness, suddenly came down with fever and cough on November 7, and his symptoms deteriorated, so he sought treatment at the private Kiang Wu Hospital on Sunday, where his chest CT scan showed pneumonia.
The man was then transferred to the public Conde de São Januario Hospital Centre. The statement added that his urine samples tested positive for Legionella pneumophila urinary antigens.
The patient, who is undergoing inpatient treatment at the public hospital, is in critical condition and has been put on a ventilator, the statement said, adding that his family members who live with him are fine.
The statement pointed out that Legionellosis, with an incubation period of between two and 10 days, is an infectious disease caused by Legionella bacteria thriving in warm water between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius and in warm and moist places, such as artificial water systems including massage pools, fountains, and household respiratory medical equipment.
The statement underlined that males, senior citizens, smokers, drinkers and those with weakened immune systems, especially those with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung or kidney disease, and patients receiving steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs are at increased risk of catching the disease.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, according to the statement.
In addition, the bureau announced in a separate statement yesterday that one more dengue fever case has been reported, involving a 66-year-old local man who had recently visited Jiangmen, some 60 km north of Macau, making him the 32nd imported dengue cases in Macau this year. The statement said the man was in a stable condition yesterday.
Image courtesy of California Department of Public Health
