Macao keeps pandemic alert at level IV

Macao’s pandemic alert remained at level IV despite reports of confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) cases in Shandong Province and Hong Kong. The Health Bureau was notified of the Shandong case by the Ministry of Health in the morning and the Hong Kong case in the afternoon. The Hong Kong patient, who had taken a flight from the United States of America to Hong Kong on Monday, sought medical attention upon arrival and was later tested positive for the virus. Reports from the Department of Health in Hong Kong indicated there was no Macao resident on the same plane. The Bureau reported the latest developments to the Influenza Pandemic Prevention Coordination Group, which decided to maintain the current pandemic alert at level IV. The Group urged the residents to keep good personal and environmental hygiene despite Macao’s adequate precautions and preparation for the outbreak. People entering Macao from Mexico, the USA, Canada, and regions with confirmed cases should pay attention to their health. Anyone with respiratory illness symptoms such as cough, sore throat or fever should wear a facemask and go to the Hospital Conde S. Januário or Kiang Wu Hospital for diagnosis. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 74 children and 46 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 130,000 people entering Macao. The medical teams also dealt with five enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.