ID :
72937
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 15:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/72937
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Flu patient develops pneumonia
SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean Army solider was found to have contracted pneumonia after being infected with the influenza A virus, raising concerns that the new flu could also become a life-threatening disease here, local health authorities said Thursday.
The 20-year-old serviceman was admitted to a state-designated hospital after
complaining of flu-like symptoms on June 21 and was diagnosed with pneumonia four
days later, according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. He
tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Tuesday.
His health conditions deteriorated to a "very serious level" but he is now being
treated with antibiotics and is recovering quickly.
The case marks the first time that an influenza A patient has suffered from
complications. Most of those infected with the virus have shown only mild
symptoms such as fever and coughing and have made brisk recoveries after
receiving antibiotic treatment.
Pneumonia is a common complication among flu patients and is responsible for a
majority of the deaths caused by influenza viruses, experts say.
The ministry said that it is cooperating with military authorities to verify how
the soldier contracted the H1N1 virus in order to track down all those who might
have been in contact with him.
He is among 37 additional new flu cases reported overnight, raising the total
number of infections of the disease in South Korea to 1,364, according to the
ministry.
As of Thursday morning, 72 people remained in isolation at state-designated
hospitals for treatment with 412 being kept at home. The other patients have
recovered after being treated with antibiotics. No flu-related deaths have been
reported in South Korea.
The government is intensifying efforts to brace for widespread infections after
it upgraded its disease alert level to the second-highest against the new flu
that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide since it was first reported in late
April.
It seeks to stockpile enough vaccine to inoculate around 27 percent of the
nation's population against the virus.
The 20-year-old serviceman was admitted to a state-designated hospital after
complaining of flu-like symptoms on June 21 and was diagnosed with pneumonia four
days later, according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. He
tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Tuesday.
His health conditions deteriorated to a "very serious level" but he is now being
treated with antibiotics and is recovering quickly.
The case marks the first time that an influenza A patient has suffered from
complications. Most of those infected with the virus have shown only mild
symptoms such as fever and coughing and have made brisk recoveries after
receiving antibiotic treatment.
Pneumonia is a common complication among flu patients and is responsible for a
majority of the deaths caused by influenza viruses, experts say.
The ministry said that it is cooperating with military authorities to verify how
the soldier contracted the H1N1 virus in order to track down all those who might
have been in contact with him.
He is among 37 additional new flu cases reported overnight, raising the total
number of infections of the disease in South Korea to 1,364, according to the
ministry.
As of Thursday morning, 72 people remained in isolation at state-designated
hospitals for treatment with 412 being kept at home. The other patients have
recovered after being treated with antibiotics. No flu-related deaths have been
reported in South Korea.
The government is intensifying efforts to brace for widespread infections after
it upgraded its disease alert level to the second-highest against the new flu
that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide since it was first reported in late
April.
It seeks to stockpile enough vaccine to inoculate around 27 percent of the
nation's population against the virus.
