Second H1N1 death in Malaysia

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: A 46-year-old Malaysian man who worked in Belgium has died from influenza A (H1N1), making him the second fatality in the country since the flu outbreak.
He was reported to have died from “severe pneumonia with respiratory failure with septicaemic shock and acute renal failure” after being treated at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Subang Jaya for a week.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the victim had returned to Malaysia on July 4.
“He was all right until he went for a holiday with his family in Langkawi on July 13 where he developed fever and cough.
“On 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 yesterday.
Dr Mohd Ismail said the man was then referred to the private hospital in Subang Jaya on July 19 and was warded at the ICU.
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 yesterday (on Sunday),” he said.
On July 21, a 30-year-old Islamic finance student from Indonesia died from H1N1.
Dr Mohd Ismail said the latest fatal case was among seven cases categorised as sporadic or isolated.
Six other local cases in the same category included three who were warded – one for pneumonia and the others being a pregnant woman and a young student.
The other three are from one family and they received outpatient treatment.
Dr Mohd Ismail also disclosed that 49 new cases were reported yesterday, all involving locals, bringing the total number to 1,124.
Of the figure, 574 were imported cases.
He said 1,103 cases (98%) had recovered while another 10 were being given anti-viral treatment.