S. Korea confirms 9th new flu death

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean woman who became brain-dead due to
complications from Influenza A (H1N1) has died, local health officials said
Tuesday, raising the total number of flu-linked deaths here to nine.

The 40-year-old woman was pronounced brain-dead earlier this month after
experiencing a high fever and respiratory problems and testing positive for the
new flu virus, according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.
Before becoming brain-dead, the patient had seemed to be recovering on antiviral
drugs but her condition deteriorated suddenly as she developed cerebral edema and
hemorrhaging, the ministry said.
A separate death reported on Friday is still under investigation as to whether it
was directly caused by the flu virus, the ministry added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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