TYPE-A (H1N1) INFLUENZA - Naval conscript third fatality

Thailand yesterday reported its third fatality resulting from type-A (H1N1) influenza as 41 new cases were added, bringing the accumulated number of infections to 1,330.
The latest casualty was a 21-year-old naval conscript at Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province.
Of all the 1,330 accumulated cases, 1,309 have recovered with only 18 now in hospital.
Of the new cases, 29 are students and 4 were people who recently returned abroad.
The director-general of the Medical Service Department, Dr Rewat Wisarutwej, said the naval conscript was admitted to hospital on June 22 with high fever and breathing difficulty.
The unnamed victim's both lungs were infected, resulting in the respiratory failure.
Department of Medical Service's deputy director general, Dr Boonreun Triruenworarat said another unnamed 47-year-old, who is a cleaner, is also in critical condition due to the H1N1 infection.
This person, suspected to have contracted the flu virus from his workplace, is a smoker and drinker who reportedly had little rest before falling ill.
"The severity of this new flu also depends on a person's immunity," Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said.
In the wake of the type-A(H1N1) influenza fatality in Thailand, Public Health Minster, Witthaya Kaewparadai has assigned the Medical Service Department to send health experts to support medical team in hospitals where patients with influenza A (H1N1) had been admitted.
Dr Tawee Chotepitayasunon, chairman of the ministry's influenza academic team, also has urged medical workers to prepare for a further spread of the influenza A (H1N1) across across the country.
The ministry will also set up a call center to provide update information about the treatment of influenza A (H1N1) for all medical workers.
There will also be a study on risk factors affecting the severity of type A (H1N1) so that doctors could provide better treatment to patients.
At present, data shows that 70 percent of high-risk patients are people with chronic disease, children age under five year old and elderly people age over 65 year old.
However, Rawat suggested that patient with flu-like symptom and having trouble breathing should undergo treatment and receive antiviral drug immediately before patient progress to severe symptom such as pneumonia and die later.