Monday August 3, 2009

11-year-old boy is sixth H1N1 death

PETALING JAYA: An 11-year-old boy has died of Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total number of deaths from the disease to six.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement that the boy died at 8.30am yesterday at Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Baru after having fever.

He was admitted into the hospital on July 29.

Dr Ismail said his condition worsened and he was admitted into the intensive care unit a day later.

He said further checks revealed that he was suffering from inflammation of heart and lungs.

“On Aug 1, he was confirmed to be infected with the virus,” he said.

Racing against flu A punter reading an A (H1N1) flu awareness leaflet at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) yesterday. The PTC became the first turf club in the country to stage an awareness campaign . Counters manned by nurses were set up on the weekend to educate the racing publi c . “It’s part of our corporate social responsibility,” said PTC general manager Leow Khin Ming.

The boy’s death follows the death of a 10-year-old girl from Bagan Serai.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the girl had been ill since July 27 but she did not suffer from any breathing problems when she received outpatient treatment at a private clinic.

On the night of July 28, the girl complained of breathing difficulties and received treatment at a Bagan Serai health clinic the next day.

While receiving treatment, she was in stable condition and did not complain of breathing difficulties or cyanosis and was given outpatient treatment including antibiotics and cough medicine.

However at 3am on Friday, she complained of breathing difficulties, fever and cough before arriving at the Bagan Serai Health Clinic for treatment.

While receiving treatment, she passed out. She was pronounced dead at 5.30am. The post mortem done at the Alor Setar Hospital on Friday revealed that she died of severe pneumonic changes.

Tests on phlegm taken from the girl by the Institute of Medical Research showed that the girl had the A (H1N1) virus.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Ismail said 39 new flu cases were reported yesterday, taking the total number of cases to 1,429.

Thirty-five of 39 were from eight new cluster cases while four were sporadic cases.

Of the 1,429 cases, 60% were local transmission while the rest were imported.

He said 19 cases, eight of which were in ICU, were currently in hospital and were being given anti-viral treatment.

In Ipoh, state Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said SMKA Shamsul Maarif Al-Wataniah in Tanjung Piandang, Kerian, had also been ordered closed after 38 people from the school developed influenza-like illnesses.

“This brings the number of institutions closed since the outbreak to 16,” he said, adding that 18 people are currently in various hospitals in the state for the disease.

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