A(H1N1): Second death in Malaysia (Update)

PETALING JAYA: A 46-year-old Malaysian man who worked in Belgium, died from Influenza A(H1N1) on Sunday, making him the second victim to have died from the contagious flu since its outbreak in this country.

The man was reported to have died from “severe pneumonia with respiratory failure with septicaemic shock and acute renal failure” after seven days being treated at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Subang Jaya.

Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the victim came back to Malaysia on July 4.

“He was alright until he went for a holiday with his family in Langkawi on July 13 when he developed fever and coughing.

“Upon his return from Langkawi, he sought treatment at a private hospital in Petaling Jaya on July 16 where his chest X-ray showed that he had pneumonia,” he said in a statement issued here Monday.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the man was then referred to the private hospital in Subang Jaya on July 19 and warded at the ICU.

He said tests conducted by the Institute of Medical Research on July 22, on a sample taken from the man’s throat confirmed that he had been infected with the H1N1 virus.

“Complications developed and the man died at 12.35pm Sunday,” he said, adding that 18 contact cases had been identified and only one had tonsillitis symptoms.

On July 21, a 30-year-old Islamic finance student from Indonesia also died from Influenza A(H1N1).

Dr Mohd Ismail said the latest fatal case was among seven cases categorised as sporadic or isolated.

He said six other local cases in the same category included three who were warded in the hospitals -- one for pneumonia and the others a five-month pregnant woman and a young student. The other three are from one family and they received outpatient treatment.

Dr Mohd Ismail also said that 49 new cases were reported Monday, all involving locals, bringing the total number of cases so far to 1,124 with two deaths. Of the figure, 574 were imported cases while the rest were locally transmitted.

He said 1,103 cases (98%) had recovered, another 10 cases were being given antiviral treatment and eight were treated at home. -- Bernama