The Health Bureau has urged the public to maintain high standards of personal hygiene and of environmental cleanliness, as well as taking protective measures against mosquitoes. The announcement was made following two confirmed cases of dengue fever respectively involving two non-resident workers, both of them living in Zhuhai Prefecture, in Guangdong Province. So far this year, there has been a total of four imported cases of dengue fever recorded in Macao. The new cases involve a 35-year-old woman who works in a restaurant near Avenida do Almirante Lacerda close to the Inner Harbour district on Macau peninsula; and a 32-year-old man who works at the Grand Lisboa Palace construction site on Cotai. They respectively reported having developed symptoms such as fever, joint pain and headache, with those symptoms starting last week. The patients said they had not travelled outside Zhuhai and Macao in the two weeks prior to developing the symptoms. On being informed of the cases, the Health Bureau immediately conducted anti-mosquito measures near the patients’ respective workplaces. Those people living or working near the areas where the patients work are urged to contact the Bureau on +853 2870 0800 if they develop similar symptoms. The Government has again appealed to the public to take adequate preventive measures against mosquito bites. These include wearing light-coloured and long-sleeved clothes and trousers when travelling overseas, especially in Southeast Asian countries where outbreaks of dengue infection can occur all year round. It is also recommended that the public use air-conditioning in homes and workplaces or fit windows with mosquito screens. They should also use mosquito repellent when outdoors. If members of the public develop symptoms such as fever and rash, they should seek medical help immediately.
