Carmarthenshire woman who had swine flu dies in hospital
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 17:20Comment on this story
A 43-YEAR-OLD woman from Carmarthenshire who had swine flu has died.
Health officials have said the woman, who had underlying health conditions, was admitted to Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli, on October 3.
The patient deteriorated and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where she died on October 7.
Routine test results confirmed she had swine flu but this was not said to be the primary cause of death.
A 21-year-old pregnant woman from Monmouthshire who had swine flu has also died in the past few days.
She was admitted to Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny for a planned caesarean section on September 25. The baby was delivered safely and is well, but the mother was transferred to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after deteriorating.
She was then moved to the ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on September 30. She died on October 9.
The two cases bring the number of swine flu-related deaths in Wales to three. Wales’s first swine flu-related death was on August 15 – a 55-year-old woman from Caerphilly County Borough.
Another death is currently being investigated.
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: “We would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of the women at this difficult time.
“Sadly, as the number of swine flu cases rise, the number of people experiencing severe symptoms or complications or even death will inevitably increase. This is the same for seasonal flu in the winter. We should receive the swine flu vaccine in the coming weeks and shortly after GPs will begin administering the vaccines to those most at risk of complications and frontline health and social care workers.
“I must stress that for the vast majority of healthy people, the infection remains mild and they should recover within five to seven days with rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol.
“People with underlying health conditions, especially heart and lung diseases, are at most risk. Even in the at risk groups – those with chronic conditions, pregnant women and children under five and those 65 and over – most people get over the infection with no major concerns.
“If people are concerned, or if they are in these at risk groups, they should contact their GP. Antivirals have the most impact within 48 hours of the onset of flu-like symptoms.”
At the families’ request, he said no further details would be released.
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/southwalesnews/Carmarthenshire-woman-swine-flu-dies-hospital/article-1420490-detail/article.html
Kuwait reports 11th swine flu fatality
10/14/2009 7:42:00 PM
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2032126&Language=en
KUWAIT, Oct 14 (KUNA) — The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that an Arab national had succumbed to Influenza A (H1N1) virus, bringing the death total to 11.
The 54 year-old male was admitted to hospital last Sunday, according to a statement issued by the ministry, adding that the deceaded was suffering from several diseases in addition for being infected by the swine flu virus.
All the 11 swine flu victims, mainly too young (below five years of age) or above 65, suffered from other diseases such as diabetes, asthma, tuberculosis, hepatitis, or defective immunity.
Up to 99 percent of the lab-confirmed H1N1 cases in Kuwait recovered completely, the ministry affirmed. (end) na.abd.gta KUNA 141942 Oct 09NNNN