Death toll rises to 77

KUALA LUMPUR: A 15-year-old schoolgirl became the latest victim to succumb to the Influenza A(H1N1) virus in the country, bringing the death toll so far to 77.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the student, who stayed in a hostel, had died on Sept 11 but the case was only reported to the ministry yesterday.

He said the student, who was asthmatic, received an outpatient treatment for influenza like illness (ILI) at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital on Sept 7.

"However, after four days, she did not show any sign of recovery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she was given the anti-viral.

"She succumbed to the illness six hours later and the cause of death was verified as severe pneumonia with H1N1 infection with secondary bacterial infection," he said in a statement here on Saturday.

Dr Mohd Ismail also said that 69 new ILI patients had been admitted to hospital while 150 others were discharged.

"So far, there are 740 ILI patients who are still receiving treatment at 98 hospitals, including 11 private hospitals nationwide, with only 190 patients tested positive of H1N1," he said.

Of the 190 H1N1 cases, 29 patients were still in the ICU, comprising mostly those in the high risk group, namely children, pregnant women as well as those with obesity, chronic diseases and respiratory problems, he added.

More updates on H1N1 can be obtained by contacting the hotline at 038881 0200 or 038881 0300 or via website at http://www.moh.gov.my.

- BERNAMA