Macao stays free of A/H1N1 flu despite new confirmed case in neighboring city

MACAO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- There was no "extremely possible" or "confirmed" A/H1N1 flu case found in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) after a confirmed case was reported in neighboring Chinese mainland city Zhuhai, said the SAR's Health Bureau on Wednesday.

A 45-year-old man, who lives in Zhuhai, arrived in Hong Kong by Cathay Pacific flight from New York last Friday and later arrived in Macao by Turbojet ferry before entering Zhuhai. The man allegedly used public transport when he was in Macao, which closely borders on Zhuhai.

The health bureau said it has required local bus companies to adopt stricter precaution measures against the virus, and called on local residents who took the same bus with the patient to seek help from the bureau once they feel sick and have a doubt about their own health.

Statistics from the bureau indicated that a total of 83 child and 46 adult patients were registered in Macao's largest public hospital on Wednesday.

The tally of confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases on the Chinese mainland climbed to 51 as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to China's Ministry of Health.