S. Korea reports 3rd death from influenza A

SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported its third death from influenza A
on Thursday, raising concerns that the country is no longer insulated from the
contagious disease that is spreading rapidly worldwide.
An elderly male patient, whose identity and age was withheld, was taken to a
hospital in Seoul Monday due to pneumonia-like symptoms and died earlier in the
day as the symptoms worsened, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
He suffered from high fever from about a month ago and was confirmed to have
contracted the H1N1 virus after being hospitalized, according to officials.
Authorities were investigating the exact cause of the death.
Fears of influenza A are rapidly spreading here, as the number of South Koreans
diagnosed with the highly infectious viral respiratory disease topped 3,300
earlier this week. Influenza A, known worldwide as the swine flu, has already
claimed the lives of two South Koreans.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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