The local Health Bureau (SSM) reported a severe influenza case on Friday afflicting a 68-year-old local male patient who was in a serious condition at the time, according to a statement by the bureau on Friday.
According to the statement, the patient has a history of chronic illness. He developed symptoms including cough and sputum on April 7 and initially sought medical treatment, but was not tested for influenza at the time. However, his condition worsened on Friday, with symptoms including fever, shortness of breath and vomiting, the statement added.
The statement noted that last week he attended the emergency department of Kiang Wu Hospital, where he was diagnosed with influenza B complicated by acute respiratory and heart failure. The patient was subsequently transferred to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre for hospitalisation and requires ventilator support, the statement added.
According to the statement, the patient had no recent travel history during the incubation period and had not received this season’s influenza vaccination. No respiratory symptoms have been reported among his cohabitants.
The Health Bureau reminded residents, particularly high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, to receive seasonal influenza vaccination and seek timely medical attention if symptoms develop.
This downloaded image courtesy of New York’s Creative Diagnostics webside shows a schematic model of the influenza B virus
