Flu vaccine unrelated to cerebral hemorrhage death: gov't

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- Government health officials said Monday that the death
of a student late last week is unrelated to the Influenza-A vaccine.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said experts from various
state agencies including the National Institute of Scientific Investigation have
speculated the death may have been caused by an aneurysm, or an extreme swelling
on the wall of an artery, in the brain.
"Computer tomography showed serious bleeding in the brain that could indicate a
prior dangerous medical condition," the ministry quoting experts who reviewed the
death said.
The student, whose identify has not been revealed, was inoculated with the new
H1N1 vaccine Tuesday as part of a nationwide effort to protect children, but died
of cerebral hemorrhaging on Saturday.
The ministry stressed that of the 966 students inoculated with the vaccine from
the same production batch, minor side-effects were reported in 70 cases, with
symptoms all vanishing in a relatively short period of time.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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