IPOH: Perak may have recorded its first influenza A (H1N1) death when a 10-year-old girl from Bagan Serai in Kerian succumbed to influenza-like symptoms.
State Health exco Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon told a press conference here that the girl, a pupil from SK Matang Gerdu, died at 5am on Friday at the Bagan Serai Health Clinic.
“She began suffering from fever, cough and breathing difficulties at about 3am and her level of oxygen dipped.
“After arriving at the clinic, she was given resuscitation but collapsed anyway and could not be saved,” he said.
Dr Mah added that the girl had already sought treatment from the clinic on Wednesday after suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection.
“However at the time, she was still stable and was sent home,” he said, adding that there were no reported cases of influenza-like illnesses from other pupils in the girl’s school.
He said that health authorities were still waiting for the post-mortem report in order to ascertain the cause of the girl’s death but suspects that it could have been from influenza A (H1N1).
If confirmed, the girl’s case would bring the country’s death toll from A(H1N1) to five.
Dr Mah also said five more institutions have been ordered closed for seven days since Friday, in addition to the nine already closed, with a total of 45 confirmed H1N1 cases.
The institutions are SJK (T) Simpang Lima with 12 suspected cases, SJK (T) St Mary and SK Wawasan Pekan Baru, all in Kerian, with 22 suspected cases in total, the Tegas Mesra National Service camp in Selama (unknown number of cases) and the Universiti Teknologi Petronas hostel in Seri Iskandar, Tronoh, with 192 suspected cases.
Dr Mah also warned the public against hiding possible A(H1N1) cases from the authorities, saying that it was an irresponsible act.
“We will not hide anything from the public because we believe it is important for them to be updated on what is going on,” he said.
Source: TheStar
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