S. Korea reports 4th death from Influenza A

(ATTN: CORRECTS outbreak month, infection number in 6th para; ADDS gov't vaccination
plan in paras 7-9)
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean woman infected with Influenza A died on
Wednesday, health officials said, raising the local death toll from the H1N1
virus to four.
The 47-year-old woman, a resident of the Seoul metropolitan area who suffered
from hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure, died of shock earlier in the day
after being infected with the virus, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Unlike previous deaths, the women showed no symptoms of respiratory diseases such
as pneumonia, the ministry said.
The latest death came six days after a Seoul resident in his 60s died after being
hospitalized with symptoms of pneumonia.
On Aug. 15, South Korea reported its first H1N1 virus-related death -- a man in
his 50s who had recently returned from a trip to Thailand. The second death, a
woman in her 50s, took place a day later.
South Korea reported its first new flu outbreak in April, with the number of
infections currently exceeding 3,700. Health experts say the disease may spread
more widely in the fall.
Last week, the ministry said it will vaccinate 10 million people against the
influenza A virus within the year to stem the rapid spread of the disease.
The government has contacted Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc. and secured an order
for 10 million doses of an anti-viral vaccine, with more to be bought next year,
it said.
Full-scale vaccinations will begin in November with 27 percent of the country's
48 million population to get flu shots by February 2010, it added.
yskwak@yna.co.kr
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