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Saturday 19 September 2009

Schoolgirl is 77th H1N1 death

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — A 15-year-old schoolgirl became the latest victim to succumb to the influenza A(H1N1) in the country, bringing the death toll so far to 77.

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

He said the student, who was asthmatic, received 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 signs of recovery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she was given the antiviral.

"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 today.

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

"So far, there are 740 ILI patients who are still receiving treatments at 98 hospitals including 11 private hospitals nationwide, with only 190 patients tested positive for 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 03-8881-0200 or 03-8881-0300 or via the website at http://www.moh.gov.my. — Bernama

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