A (H1N1): Latest victim is 3-yr-old; death toll rises to 70

PETALING JAYA: A three-year-old child has died of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, bringing the total number of deaths to 70.

As of 9am Tuesday, 52 new patients had been admitted with Influenza-like illness (ILI), said Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.

The child’s death, he said, had been confirmed by the Mortality Review Committee.

“On Aug 12, the child sought early treatment in the hospital after experiencing seizure and cough for two days.

“The child was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was given Tamilflu treatment after the child’s condition deteriorated on Aug 13,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

Lab test results indicated that the child had tested positive for A (H1N1) on Aug 17.

However, the child died on Aug 18 and the cause of death was H1N1 encephalitis with cerebral odema and multi-organ failure, he said.

Dr Ismail said 1,345 ILI patients were seeking treatment at 82 hospitals nationwide including a private hospital. Of that number 202 patients (15%) had tested positive for H1N1.

“Of the 202 cases, 42 are in ICU of which 38 cases (95%) had risk factors such as chronic disease (15 cases), obesity (nine cases), diabetes (six cases), children or babies (three), pregnant or postnatal (three) and Down Syndrome (two cases),” he added.

Dr Ismail also said that 152 patients with ILI had been discharged.

He advised parents to monitor the movement of their children during the ongoing school holidays to ensure they stayed away from crowded areas such as Ramadan bazaars, places of worship, shopping malls, cinemas and prevent the spread of the virus.

“We need everyone’s cooperation to help contain the virus.

“It is important to ensure that children are not exposed to infections from individuals experiencing influenza symptoms in public areas,” he added.

Parents, he said, must ensure that children who were unwell and experiencing fever or cough practised social distancing and avoided public places.

“Individuals who have symptoms of ILI, even if it is light, should have a sense of and not spread the infection by going into crowded public places,” he said, adding that those with symptoms should rest at home.

Source: TheStar