The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that Macau’s number of consultations for influenza-like illnesses has been rising since mid-February, and it urged residents to take flu and COVID-19 prevention measures.
According to the statement, the number of consultations for flu-like illnesses saw a notable increase in mid-May, with adult cases rising more sharply that children’s.
The statement noted that the weekly number of adult emergency department consultations for influenza-like illnesses increased to 740 in the week of May 24 to May 30, compared to the 651 consultations in the same period in April, a rise of 13.6 percent. For children, the weekly number rose from 605 to 656, an increase of 8.4 percent, according to the statement.
So far this year, Macau has recorded four severe influenza cases, comprising three men and a woman, aged between 56 and 71, the statement said, adding that two of the patients required ventilator support, while two of them had not received the seasonal influenza vaccine for the current year.
The statement also said that based on local laboratory testing, the recent positive rate for influenza virus detection has continued to rise, with the overall level of influenza activity now at a moderate epidemic level.
The positive rate increased from 22.7 percent in the same period last month to 23.9 percent last week, exceeding the alert threshold of 15.2 percent, the statement said, adding that among the detected cases, influenza B is the predominant strain, accounting for 76.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) detection rose from 1.5 percent in the same period last month to 9.1 percent last week, a fivefold increase. The statement added that although the overall level of COVID-19 activity remains low, it shows a continuing upward trend.
This poster download yesterday from Health Bureau (SSM) official website warns the public against the flu and urges precautions such as getting downloaded seasonal flu jabs every year. Translation from Chinese to English by Gemini
