Influenza epidemic lasts another 2-3 weeks: Office of Health

The Health Bureau (SSM) held a press conference on Wednesday at the Conde de São Januario Public Health Center about a new flu epidemic in the city in the last two months, which is expected to last another two to three weeks.

The director of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Lam Chong, noted that since last month, another influenza outbreak has been declared that could last another two to three weeks. Most cases are caused by influenza B and most patients are children, according to Lam.

Lam added that during the past two months, at its peak, 25 people have been afflicted with various flu-related illnesses in one week and nine in one day. Lam did not detect any serious infection with influenza B virus and no patient had to be hospitalized.

According to the press conference attended by three bureau officials, one of the reasons for the local flu epidemic was due to the fact that the mainland also suffered from the same virus at the same time.
With the large flow of visitors and the high population density, the virus could easily be pbaded on to other people, officials said.

Officials also pointed out that every day in the last two months, 3 to 10 people who have crossed the border checkpoints with a fever or flu-related illness have crossed the border. SSM staff stationed at the city's border control points routinely recommend that any nervous person go to see a doctor immediately.

The press conference also pointed out that this year's influenza vaccine was not effective against this particular type of influenza B virus. Macao's current vaccine concerns four types of influenza viruses, namely two types of influenza viruses. A virus and two types of B viruses, officials said.

Lam stressed, however, that "this vaccine is not effective against the virus we are facing". He predicted that the current outbreak would continue for another two to three weeks.

When a reporter asked if there would be new vaccines for this type of virus, Mr Lam said that each vaccine was decided in February by the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquartered in Geneva.
The current vaccine will not be replaced soon, Lam said.

However, Leong Kin Mui, pediatrician consultant to the public hospital, suggested that everyone be vaccinated for whatever reason, as there is usually another outbreak of influenza-like illness in the summer (Macaunews).