Flu patient presumed brain-dead in S. Korea

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 6)
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- A female type-A flu patient in her 40s has been
presumed brain-dead, Seoul officials said Friday, amid growing concerns that the
H1N1 virus is spreading fast in South Korea.
The woman, a resident of the Seoul metropolitan area, tested positive for the
virus on Monday after experiencing a high fever and respiratory problems,
according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.
She seemed to be recovering after being treated with antiviral drugs. But her
condition suddenly deteriorated when she developed cerebral edema and cerebral
hemorrhaging, the ministry said.
The patient is expected to be officially pronounced brain-dead within the day, it
added. Tests are still underway to confirm whether the new flu was the direct
cause.
The latest case adds to concerns that the new flu, which has claimed lives of
more than 3,000 people worldwide, is spreading fast in South Korea, once regarded
as insulated from the disease.
South Korean authorities said there have been over 5,000 cases of type-A flu
infections in the country reported since April. Most of the patients have
recovered, although four have died.
Initially, patients contracted the disease through overseas travel, but the most
recent cases are person-to-person infections, with people who have not been
abroad getting ill.
In a bid to stem the spread of the disease, the government said last week it will
vaccinate around 10 million people against the virus by the end of this year.
Full-scale vaccination will begin in November and aims to inoculate 27 percent of
the nation's 48 million people by February next year, it added.
In a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, the government said
it is "seriously" considering raising the nation's disease alert to the highest
level as the spread of the disease could peak with the onset of autumn and
winter.
Health authorities upgraded the alert level to the second-highest in July as the
number of infections picked up speed. They have been running a round-the-clock
control center to cope with daily outbreaks.
Doctors have said that people with high fever, coughing, headaches and other
symptoms must visit doctors immediately and take anti-viral drugs. Senior
citizens, pregnant women, children and those suffering from chronic health
conditions are most at risk.
Drugs like Tamiflu are most effective if taken within 48 hours of the onset of
symptoms.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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