PUTRAJAYA (Aug 24, 2009) : A 38-year-old female teacher was confirmed to be the latest victim of the Influenza A(H1N1) today, bringing the death toll to 69.
The SMK USJ 12 teacher died on Aug 19 due to pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and was confirmed to be positive of the virus the next day, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told a press conference here today.
“She received treatment from a private clinic on Aug 13 for cough and fever for two days. The rapid test result showed that she was positive of Influenza A and she was given symptomatic treatment but not Tamiflu,” he said.
On Aug18, the patient went to a private hospital for treatment and was immediately referred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Kuala Lumpur Hospital after she had breathing difficulty and cyanosis.
“The throat swab was taken on Aug 18 and she received Tamiflu on the same day. She died the next day and the throat swab test confirmed she was infected with Influenza A(H1N1) on Aug 20,” Liow said.
The delay in announcing the latest fatality was because the ministry had to ascertain if the virus was the primary cause of death in the case.
Liow also said 306 new patients with Influenza-like Illness (ILI) have been admitted to hospital for treatment in 85 hospitals, including four private hospitals, nationwide.
The total number of patients being treated is 1,455, of whom 285 are confirmed positive for A(H1N1). Some 300 patients have recovered and have been discharged.
Of the 285 confirmed cases, 39 are in ICU with 33 of them from the high-risk group, including five children and one Down's Syndrome patient.
http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=37282
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