Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2009/09/02/5/0601000000AEN20090902008500320F.HTML
(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 4th death from Influenza A
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean woman infected with Influenza A died on Wednesday, health officials said, raising the local death toll from the H1N1 virus to four.
The 47-year-old resident of the Seoul metropolitan area, who suffered from hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure, died of shock after contracting the virus, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Unlike previous cases, the women, who had been confirmed with the virus Saturday, showed no symptoms of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, the ministry said.
The ministry added that the condition of another flu patient under treatment has suddenly deteriorated, raising the possibility of an additional death from the virus.
The latest death came six days after a Seoul resident in his 60s died after being hospitalized with symptoms of pneumonia.
On Aug. 15, South Korea reported its first H1N1 virus-related death -- a man in his 50s who had recently returned from a trip to Thailand. The second death, a woman in her 50s, took place a day later.
South Korea reported its first new flu outbreak in early May, with the number of infections reaching nearly 4,300 and 1,796 of the patients still receiving treatment. Health experts say the disease may spread more widely in the fall.
Last week, the ministry said it will vaccinate 10 million people against the influenza A virus within the year to stem the rapid spread of the disease.
The government has contacted Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc. and secured an order for 10 million doses of an anti-viral vaccine, with more to be bought next year, it said.
Full-scale vaccinations will begin in November with 27 percent of the country's 48 million population to get flu shots by February 2010, it added.
(END)
(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 4th death from Influenza A
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean woman infected with Influenza A died on Wednesday, health officials said, raising the local death toll from the H1N1 virus to four.
The 47-year-old resident of the Seoul metropolitan area, who suffered from hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure, died of shock after contracting the virus, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Unlike previous cases, the women, who had been confirmed with the virus Saturday, showed no symptoms of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, the ministry said.
The ministry added that the condition of another flu patient under treatment has suddenly deteriorated, raising the possibility of an additional death from the virus.
The latest death came six days after a Seoul resident in his 60s died after being hospitalized with symptoms of pneumonia.
On Aug. 15, South Korea reported its first H1N1 virus-related death -- a man in his 50s who had recently returned from a trip to Thailand. The second death, a woman in her 50s, took place a day later.
South Korea reported its first new flu outbreak in early May, with the number of infections reaching nearly 4,300 and 1,796 of the patients still receiving treatment. Health experts say the disease may spread more widely in the fall.
Last week, the ministry said it will vaccinate 10 million people against the influenza A virus within the year to stem the rapid spread of the disease.
The government has contacted Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc. and secured an order for 10 million doses of an anti-viral vaccine, with more to be bought next year, it said.
Full-scale vaccinations will begin in November with 27 percent of the country's 48 million population to get flu shots by February 2010, it added.
(END)
