The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement on Friday that a 70-year-old male resident with a history of chronic illness was in critical condition with a severe case of influenza A.
According to the statement, the patient, a retired local resident, developed a fever, cough, and shortness of breath on Thursday and sought medical care at the private Kiang Wu Hospital. He was diagnosed with influenza A complicated by pneumonia and subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), where his condition remained critical
The statement noted that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. He had received the current season’s influenza vaccine, and no co-habiting family members have reported symptoms.
The statement added that influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease, typically peaking in Macau during winter-spring (January to March) and summer (June to August). The virus spreads primarily through airborne droplets or direct contact with an infected person’s nasal and oral secretions.
Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, and cough, the statement said, adding that while most individuals recover, high-risk groups – including the elderly, infants, and individuals with underlying chronic conditions – are at greater risk of severe complications, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
The bureau urged high-risk individuals to reinforce personal hygiene and preventive measures. Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention promptly to enable early evaluation for antiviral treatment, thereby reducing the risk of severe illness, the statement added.
Image courtesy of US California’s Universal Primary Care Clinics.
