2nd LD) South Korea reports first death from influenza A

(ATTN: ADDS more info on the deceased in para 2-4)
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported its first death from influenza A
on Saturday, raising concerns that the country is no longer insulated from the
contagious disease that is spreading rapidly worldwide.

The deceased, whose identity has been withdrawn, is reportedly a man in his 50s
who recently came back from a trip to Thailand. Three days after returning home
on Aug. 8, he showed flu-like symptoms and was admitted later to a local hospital
after his health condition deteriorated, health authorities said.
The exact reason for his death is still under investigation but he is suspected
of having died of pneumonia caused by the H1N1 virus, the Ministry of Health,
Welfare and Family Affairs said. The ministry will hold an emergency press
briefing at 3 p.m. to unveil details.
News of the death came just hours after the ministry confirmed an additional 62
cases of the new flu overnight, bringing the total number of infections here to
2,032.
Pneumonia is a common complication among flu patients and is responsible for a
majority of the deaths caused by influenza viruses, experts say.
Most patients infected with the virus in South Korea, however, have shown only
mild symptoms and have made brisk recoveries after receiving antibiotic
treatment.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the global pandemic, which has
claimed about 1,500 lives since the disease was first identified in April.
As of Saturday, 402 people remained in isolation in South Korea at their homes or
state-designated hospitals. The other patients have recovered after being treated
with antibiotics.
But concerns are mounting over the rising number of infections involving
community transmissions, in which people develop symptoms without traveling to
affected countries or having contact with other patients.
The Seoul government is intensifying efforts to brace for widespread infections
after it recently upgraded its disease alert level to the second-highest against
the new flu.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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