1,000 households require inspections for stagnant water
Macau Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long told reporters yesterday that around 1,000 households are required to undergo inspections for stagnant water issues, in order to prevent dengue fever risks, in response to the first confirmed local case of the highly infectious disease.
According to an SSM statement on Saturday night, a dengue fever case has been classified as the first local infection after confirmation that the patient had no travel history. The bureau is treating the case with “heightened vigilance”, having already dispatched teams to the patient’s home for preventive mosquito eradication, the statement said.
Dr Lo said that his bureau has designated a 100-metre radius around the patient’s flat as a priority zone, covering around 1,000 households. Teams are conducting door-to-door inspections for stagnant water, enquiring about residents’ symptoms like fever and joint pain, and delivering mosquito prevention leaflets.
Dr Lo also said that on Saturday health inspectors visited over 300 households, identifying mosquito larvae in flower vases at over 10 homes.
The bureau said that the victim, who is recovering at home, lives in Kei Tat Building near Ponte 16.
According to the statement, the patient fell ill on Tuesday when she sought medical treatment at Kiang Wu Hospital. On Friday, she came down with a rash on her feet and arms. She sought treatment at the private hospital again. The Hospital sent a blood sample to the Health Bureau Laboratory, which confirmed her dengue infection on Saturday. The patient was not hospitalised but urged by doctors to rest at home.
Dr Lo also noted that in the first half of this year, SSM staff members inspected over 7,000 locations to eliminate mosquito breeding sources and identified more than 140 high-risk sanitation spots for regular mosquito control measures.
Dr Lo urged residents to prevent mosquito breeding conditions at home, keep mosquitoes from entering their home, and take protective measures when outdoors.
60 students selected for ‘Student Health Ambassador Training Programme 2025’
Meanwhile, the Macao New Chinese Youth Association (MNCYA) held an opening ceremony for its Student Health Ambassador Training Programme 2025 yesterday. This time, the programme attracted 80 applications, with 60 having been selected to participate.
Dr Lo talked to the media about this year’s first local dengue fever case on the sidelines of the ceremony.
The ceremony was held at the Macau Chamber of Commerce Ilha Verde Secondary School (澳門中華總商會附設青洲中學) on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja.
According to the association’s official website, the programme was set up by the public Macau Foundation (FM) in 2002, and over 8,000 Health Ambassadors have been trained to date.
MNCYA Vice-President Choi Hung I said in a speech during the ceremony that the programme’s curriculum features a “theory-meets-practice” approach, covering three core areas: mental health, sports nutrition, and first-aid skills. Upon completing the training, participants will conduct outreach activities to share their knowledge across schools and communities, amplifying the Health Ambassadors’ impact, she said.
According to an MNCYA statement, the programme aims to empower students as advocates for healthy living, injecting fresh momentum into the Macau Healthcare Blueprint.
A student surnamed Choi told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony that the programme appeals to her particularly because of its practical curriculum – including first-aid training – which not only enriches her extracurricular experience but also may lay a foundation for her future college and career pursuits.
Macau Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long speaks to reporters at the Macau Chamber of Commerce Ilha Verde Secondary School on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja. – Photos: Armindo Neves
Macau Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long (front, fourth from left), Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR Education and Youth Affairs Department Official Chai Zhongmin (front, fourth from right), Sport Bureau (ID) President Luís Gomes (front, third from right), Macau New Chinese Youth Association (MNCYA) President Leong Sin Man and other representatives and young Health Ambassadors pose during yesterday’s “Student Health Ambassador Training Programme 2025” opening ceremony at the Macau Chamber of Commerce Ilha Verde Secondary School on Avenida do Conselheiro Borja.
