Re: Influenza A(H1N1): 3 more deaths, and a warning
A(H1N1) 3 more deaths; total 62
by Karen Arukesamy
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 16, 2009) : Influenza A(H1N1) claimed three more lives in the past 24 hours, bringing the number of deaths to date to 62. A total of 283 new cases were also recorded in the same period, pushing the total number of cases up to 3,857.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said two boys aged six and three are among dead and that all three patients had health complications.
Liow said the first case was due to congenital heart problem while the latter two were also due to late identification of the virus and ?delay in antiviral treatments?.
?The six-year-old boy (the first case), who was admitted to hospital on Aug 9 due to cough, fever, and dyspnea, had congenital heart problem and Down's syndrome. He was given antiviral treatment on the same day,? Liow told a press conference after officiating a health campaign in SJK (C) Serdang Baru 1, in Seri Kembanagan today.
The boy was confirmed with A(H1N1) later and died on Aug 14 due to severe pneumonia with underlying congenital heart problem and other complications.
Liow said the second case, a three-year-old boy, who was admitted on Aug 1 due to cough, fever and dyspnea, received antiviral treatment on Aug 3. He died on Aug 14, also due to severe pneumonia.
The third fatality was a 50-year-old man with a history of fever, cough, vomiting and diarrhea since July 28.
?He was admitted to hospital on Aug 3 and received antiviral treatment the next day. He died on Aug 14 due to septicemia and pneumonia,? said Liow.
The minister also made it clear that doctors have been told to give immediate antiviral treatment to those with high fever for more than 48 hours.
?The ministry?s guidelines have always been consistent and clear. Patients with high fever for more than 48 hours and those with Influenza-like-illness symptoms and are from the high-risk group must receive immediate antiviral treatments,? he said, adding that all details are found on
www.h1n1.moh.gov.my.
There are 213 patients being treated for the virus in hospitals nationwide and 33 of them are under the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Out of the 33, 16 of them are under the high-risk group and have other chronic disease.
Liow also said the Health Ministry had formed a focus group that monitors all cases and analyses deaths related to A(H1N1) to ensure there is no mutation.
?So far there is no mutation. Most of the deaths have been confirmed to be due to A(H1N1),? he said.
The minister also appealed to the public to adhere to the Health Ministry?s guidelines seriously, to further control the spread of the disease.
Practice social distancing, wear masks and ensure personal hygiene if you are ill or have influenza-like illness (ILI), he said, adding that the government is serious about taking action under the Disease Control Act against those who have ILI symptoms and disregard the ministry?s calls to prevent further spread. Those found guilty can face a maximum of RM10,000 fine or two-year-jail-term or both.
