Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

[Giuseppe]

Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

Posted: 15 August 2009 1607
TOKYO:


A Japanese man in his 50s has died from H1N1 flu, in the country's first death from the virus, a local government official confirmed on Saturday.

The man, a resident of Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture who had a chronic ailment, died of the A(H1N1) virus after suffering complications, the official said, without identifying the man's previous condition.

Japan's Jiji Press reported that the man, 57, had a chronic kidney condition and had previously experienced both kidney failure and cardiac arrest.

He had no recent records of travelling abroad, it said.

The number of H1N1 flu cases in Japan topped 5,000 late last month, as worries grew that the spread of the virus was accelerating.

The virus hit Japan in early May and quickly spread to high schools in the western cities of Kobe and Osaka before infecting the wider population.

- AFP/so
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<cite cite="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/449025/1/.html">channelnewsasia.com - Japan records first death from H1N1 flu</cite>

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

Japan confirms first H1N1 death (AlertNet, edited)

Japan confirms first H1N1 death

15 Aug 2009 07:54:38 GMT
Source: Reuters
TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters)


A man in his 50s from the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has died from the H1N1 influenza virus, becoming the country's first fatality from the disease, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The man had apparently not been overseas, a health ministry official said. Other details were not immediately available.

The H1N1 flu outbreak, declared a pandemic in June, has spread around the world and could eventually affect 2 billion people, according to World Health Organisation estimates.

Japan had confirmed some 5,000 cases of the disease as of last month, when it stopped keeping track.

The virus has killed more than 800 people worldwide since emerging in April.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies)
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<cite cite="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T291073.htm">Reuters AlertNet - Japan confirms first H1N1 death</cite>

 

[tyto]

Re: Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

Here are some more details on Japan's first death from H1N1.
Patient, male 57, history of kidney and heart disease.

August 9th, patient complained of throat pain and had a cough.

August 10th, during his regular dialysis treatment,
a slight fever noted (Over 37 deg. celsius). An influenza test was negative.

August 12th, during dialysis treatment, a fever noted (over 39 deg.).
Patient tested postive for influenza. Tamiflu was given to the patient.
He was admitted to a hospital.

August 14th, patient lost consciousness and regained consciousness.

August 15th, 1:30am patient went into cardiac arrest.

August 15th, 6:54am patient died.

H1N1 Influenza was confirmed on August 15th by PCR.

Source:
Okinawa Times Newspaper
http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/news/2009-08-15-S_005.html?PSID=200353bed92cc16d7b7d69860d9abe5a

 

[tyto]

Re: Japan records first death from H1N1 flu

It worth noting that the patient died on Okinawa. Okinawa, an island and the southern-most prefecture hosts the largest population of U.S. Military in Japan. There are military recruits from all over the U.S. stationed on Okinawa. And there are deployments involving San Diego, Hawaii, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Australia moving in and out of Okinawa. Also, summer months are very busy for military personnel and families moving around.