An 83-year-old local man inflicted with various chronic diseases is in a serious condition after being infected with Legionnaires’ disease, the Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement last night.
Last night’s statement did not mention how many cases of Legionnaires’ disease Macau has so far recorded this year.
Before the case announced yesterday, the Health Bureau had previously announced five cases of Legionnaires’ disease this year. This means that Macau has so far recorded six cases this year.
In 2025, Macau recorded a total of six cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
According to last night’s statement, the latest patient came down with a cough and a runny nose on May 1, but did not seek medical treatment at that time.
He sought treatment at the private Kiang Wu Hospital on Friday last week after coming down with a low-grade fever, where a chest X-ray indicated pneumonia and he was hospitalised.
The patient developed a high fever and shortness of breath on Sunday, and was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) on Monday after his symptoms worsened.
He was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease yesterday after testing positive for Legionella pneumophila. Afterwards, he was transferred to the ICU of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
The patient was in a serious condition and still on a ventilator at the time of last night’s statement.
According to the statement, the patient lives in a residential care home for senior citizens in Coloane’s Seac Pai Van public housing estate. None of his roommates have come down with similar symptoms.
Before the onset of the illness, he visited the home of his relatives in the Inner Harbour district.
The statement said that the Health Bureau will dispatch personnel to collect environmental samples from the patient’s residence and nearby areas to identify the source of infection.
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 while anyone may develop Legionnaires’ disease, certain groups of individuals are more susceptible to the disease, including males, senior citizens, smokers, alcoholics, and those with weakened immune systems, particularly those with chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung or kidney diseases, and those taking steroids or drugs that suppress body immunity.
The statement noted that antibiotics are effective in treating Legionnaires’ disease provided that they are taken early after the onset of the illness.
Image courtesy of Hydrosense
