The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement yesterday that a total of 1,358 cases of mandatorily notifiable diseases were recorded last month, and the top three diseases by case number were influenza (1,073 cases), enterovirus* infection (105 cases), and chickenpox** (36 cases).
The statement pointed out that a total of 1,073 influenza cases were reported in September, representing a 6.4-fold increase compared to the 145 cases reported in the same month last year and a 74.2 percent increase compared to the 616 cases reported in the previous month, adding that 20 cases of scarlet fever*** were reported in September, a decrease of 44.4 percent from the 36 cases reported in the same month last year, but an increase of 66.7 percent compared to the 12 cases reported in the previous month.
The statement noted that three diseases showing significant changes compared to the previous month were influenza (increase of 74.2 percent), scarlet fever (increase of 66.7 percent), and acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus**** (increase of 66.7 percent).
Meanwhile, 10 cases of norovirus infection were reported in September, a decrease of 63.0 percent from the 27 cases reported in the same month last year, but an increase of 66.7 percent compared to the six cases reported in the previous month. Individuals of any age can be infected with this disease, with the peak season typically occurring in winter, the statement said.
Moreover, four imported cases of dengue fever were reported in September, along with 12 cases of Chikungunya fever (three local and nine imported cases), the statement said.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (the same mosquitoes that spread dengue fever and zika).
The statement underscored that in order to continuously monitor the local trends of infectious diseases and formulate appropriate prevention and control measures, the Health Bureau, under the stipulations of the infectious disease prevention, requires the persons-in-charge of public or private medical institutions, the first diagnosing doctors, doctors completing death certificates, and laboratory diagnostic technicians to report infectious disease cases to the bureau within the statutory time frame.
Currently, 45 types of diseases are subject to mandatory notification in Macau, according to the statement.
* An enterovirus infection is an illness caused by a group of viruses called enteroviruses; the viruses typically enter the body through the mouth and initially multiply in the digestive tract (the “entero” part of the name refers to the intestine). - DeepSeek
** Chickenpox (also known as varicella) is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is best known for causing an itchy, blister-like rash that appears all over the body. - DeepSeek
*** Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that develops in some people who have a strep throat or, less commonly, a streptococcal skin infection; there is no vaccine against scarlet fever. - DeepSeek
**** Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis (often called a “stomach bug” or “stomach flu”) worldwide, and it causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea. -DeepSeek
This poster provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) gives the public flu prevention advice.
