Macau logs 2 local chikungunya cases
The Macau Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday launched a citywide awareness campaign for the city’s households to strengthen the elimination of stagnant water in the wake of the detection of two locally transmitted cases of chikungunya fever, as of yesterday, in Macau.
Macau recorded its first locally transmitted case of chikungunya fever this year on Friday, and recorded the second one on Saturday.
Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne disease.
The two locally transmitted cases were connected to the recent detection of three chikungunya cases in neighbouring Guangdong Province the patients of which are non-resident workers (NRW) from a construction site in Macau’s Zone A land reclamation area.
According to SSM statements on Friday and Saturday, the patients in the two local cases also work at the same construction site in Zone A.
The first patient is a 34-year-old local man living in Areia Preta district, while the second patient is a 34-year-old woman living in the city centre.
The SSM statements on Friday and Saturday underlined that the two patients contracted the disease from the same infection source.
In response, the local government is continuing to strengthen its ongoing mosquito control operations implemented for construction sites in Zone A.
A launch ceremony for the citywide awareness campaign for the elimination of stagnant water was held yesterday at the Areia Preta Centre.
Delivering a speech during the ceremony, SSM Director Alvis Lo Iek Long said that the citywide campaign includes “door-to-door” visits to households instructing them how to effectively identify hidden stagnant water spots and eliminate the stagnant water in and around their homes.
According to Dr Lo, the door-to-door visits are being carried out by over 100 staff members from various public entities as well as from various community associations.
Dr Lo also said that the door-to-door visits are more particularly targeting households in old residential buildings.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long (centre) visits a household yesterday identifying hidden spots of stagnant water. – Photo: SSM
