S. Korea reports 2nd death from influenza A

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in para 2-4; ADDS background at bottom)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported its second death from influenza A
on Sunday, raising concerns that the country is no longer insulated from the
contagious disease that is spreading rapidly worldwide.
The 63-year-old female resident of Seoul died from pulmonary edema, an abnormal
buildup of fluid within the lungs, and multiple organ failure while receiving
treatment at a local hospital, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. Her
identity has been withheld.
Authorities presume that the patient, who first showed flu-like symptoms in late
June, may have contracted the virus through so-called community transmission, as
she had not traveled overseas recently.
The patient, confirmed to have been infected with the flu on Aug. 8, did not have
any prior health issues before contracting the virus, according to officials.
On Saturday, Seoul's health authorities said that a man in his 50s died of
pneumonia apparently caused by the H1N1 virus, widely known as swine flu, marking
the country's first flu-related death since the first case was reported here in
early May.
So far, 2,032 South Koreans have been infected with the disease but most have
showed only mild symptoms and have made full recoveries. Around 400 people remain
quarantined at home or state-designated hospitals.
According to health officials, 50.1 percent of the total infections in South
Korea involve inbound travelers and 14.7 percent contracted with the disease
through person-to-person transmission.
The rate of infection is feared to accelerate as students currently overseas for
language training or short-term holidays will return home as the summer vacation
draws to an end, raising the possibility of transmission among classmates and
family members, experts say.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)