The Department of Heath Announces Influenza Virus Surveillance Result, Winter 2004-2005,

In order to strengthen local capacity in responding to influenza vaccine and influenza pandemic, the Department of Health has established an influenza virological surveillance system in 2004. This system has currently joined the global influenza surveillance network set up by World Health Organization (WHO) and also established a collaboration relationship with the WHO Collaborating Center For Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia. The influenza virus isolated and preliminarily verified by the Virology Department of Public Health Laboratory of the Department of Health will be sent to that center for further verification. Macao influenza virus surveillance result indicates that among the influenza virus isolates found in the winter of 2004-2005, a majority of them are H1N1 New Caledonia subtype viruses which were not found in the same period of 2003-2004; this may be the underlying reason for the severe influenza situation in this winter; and the detected H3N2 virus is of California subtype. Since every influenza epidemic is caused by different virus, WHO has to formulate the composition of the influenza vaccine annually with reference to the global influenza situation of the previous year. In Macao, the annual peak period of influenza is from January to March. The Department of Health usually purchases the latest influenza vaccine in the second half of the year, which will then be used for public vaccination between September to December. For those who need such vaccination should have it during this period and should repeat the vaccination annually to ensure effective prevention. In response to the recent enquiries about vaccination for influenza pandemic, the Department of Health would like to clarify that influenza pandemic is different from the influenza happened throughout the year. An influenza pandemic occurs with the appearance of a new influenza virus that can cause highly effective human-to-human transmission. As the virus that can cause an influenza pandemic cannot be predicted, effective vaccine cannot be produced and stored before the pandemic takes place. The Department of Health urges the public to take the following precautionary measures to keep good health: Preventive measures on Influenza Observe good personal hygiene, wash hands frequently to keep both hands clean, especially when hands are contaminated by secretions from mouth and nose;
Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, handle secretions from mouth and nose properly;
Avoid going to overcrowded and badly ventilated places;
Maintain a balanced diet, drink sufficient water, exercise regularly and have adequate rest, avoid over-working and smoking, so as to increase resistance against diseases;
When having fever and respiratory symptoms, in particular for children, elderly people and patients with chronic diseases, should put on a mask and seek medical treatment immediately.