TYPE A (H1N1) - Virus attacks lungs

The type-A (H1N1) virus directly attacks the lung, developing severe symptoms that can lead to death, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday. "We found that most patients with severe influenza symptoms also had pneumonia," said Dr Rewat Wisarutwej, director-general of the Medical Service Department. The finding was revealed by health experts meeting to examine the characteristics of the virus and its severity when infecting humans, based on patient's medical records, laboratory tests, and x-ray results."The virus has been found in the bottom of the lungs," Rewat said, adding that most patients developed the symptoms after contracting the virus from other infected patients. The Public Health Ministry will reveal details from its first autopsy on a swine-flu patient today. Rewat has urged patients with mild flu symptoms to not do any exercise, as heavy breathing would help the virus attack the lungs.According to the Public Health Ministry, the new strain of flu has claimed 24 lives in Thailand and infected more than 4,469. Most patients make a full recovery within two or three days - and most fatalities were among people who had gone to hospital too late.However, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the number of patients admitted to Bangkok hospitals with the virus had dropped as people were no longer panicking."The situation will normalise as people understand and follow ministry's recommendations that anyone with mild flu symptoms should stay home - or see the doctor when their condition worsens - helping reduce the spread of the disease," he said. Rajavithi Hospital's director, Dr Varunee Jinarat, reported that the number of patients seeking treatment for flu had dropped from 500 cases a day to 150; and admissions were down to four or five a day. Total patients seeking hospital treatment for flu symptoms over the past three months was over 7,000. However, Varunee remained concerned about the spread of the disease in public spaces and in hospitals, infecting people with underlying diseases. She said the hospital urged all admitted patients to wear face masks, but some were reluctant to do so. "Even though the number of patients with flu-like symptoms has decreased, we are not confident [in controlling the situation] as many infected people still don't wear masks," she said. Rewat said the number of suspected flu patients had also dropped at the Nopparat and Bangkok Children's hospitals. "I think patient admissions will drop by 50 per cent if we send out clear messages," he said.Witthaya said the Health Ministry had distributed 4 million name-card-sized manuals with information about self-care for people with flu-like symptoms. It has also distributed 60,000 clinical practice guidelines for medical workers on the appropriate approach to treating flu patients.

Source: The Nation