The Health Bureau today urged residents going abroad to take precautions against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus and keep good personal hygiene.

This followed reports of more imported cases in Beijing and Hong Kong, and possible community outbreaks in Kobe and Osaka, Japan.

China’s Ministry of Health last night notified Macao of an imported case and Hong Hong’s Department of Health this evening informed Macao of its third imported case.

The latter took CX831/AA6091 in New York on 15 May and arrived n Hong Kong yesterday. He was detected for having fever at the airport and was sent to hospital, where he was tested positive for the virus.

Hong Kong authorities were trying to locate the passengers of the plane and it is believed no Macao residents were on the flight. However the Health Bureau urged anyone with information on the passengers to call its hotline 28561122.

Japan reported eight local confirmed cases in Kobe on Saturday and 13 cases in Osaka the next day, suggesting the country could be the first in Asia with an outbreak. The Health Bureau would continue to pay attention to the situation in Japan and reports from the Japanese health authorities and the World Health Organization.

The Bureau was also aware of the first confirmed case in India.

It urged residents travelling abroad to immediately seek medical treatment should they develop symptoms of influenza.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 97 children and 35 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 148,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 53 enquiries

Three Macao residents, all family members, were tested negative for the virus. They developed fever and respiratory illness symptoms after returning from the USA and sought treatment at the hospital.

To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.