A Filipino tourist yesterday was confirmed as Macao's first case of A (H1N1) flu.

The 27-year-old man, who flew into the city, was running a fever when he arrived and was apprehended by medical personnel at the city's international airport. He was taken to hospital, and tested positive for the virus. The result was re-confirmed by a Hong Kong public laboratory yesterday, the Macao government announced.

The man arrived in Macao at 9:30 pm Wednesday via Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J-362. His seat was 14C. Authorities in Macao traced 14 out of 30 passengers who had close contact with the patient. Five are from the mainland, seven are Filipinos, one is from Taiwan and one is Moroccan.

The patient is being treated in the Hospital Conde S. Januario.

Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah chaired a meeting of the Co-ordination Centre for Preparedness and Response to Influenza Pandemic.

Ho urged all the public departments to apply best efforts to combat the disease.

Ho also urged the public to maintain good personal hygiene and not to panic. He said the government will take all necessary precautions to curb the spread of the virus.

"Macao cannot escape from the global pandemic," he said.

Macao will maintain its pandemic alert at level five since the patient did not enter the local communities.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/19/2009 page1)