S. Korea reports 16th flu-linked death

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- A 53-year-old South Korean man infected with Influenza
A (H1N1) has died, health authorities said Friday, raising the nation's death
toll from the disease to 16.
The patient, who died early Thursday, had been undergoing treatment for acute
myocardial infarction and acute respiratory distress syndrome at a local
hospital, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.
It said the man died from shock before the results of tests carried out to see if
he had contracted the type-A influenza came back.
The ministry said the man had been hospitalized at a small clinic on Oct. 2 after
being in a automobile accident, but was moved to a larger hospital after showing
signs of pneumonia. He was tested by doctors on Wednesday.
The exact circumstances behind the patient's type-A flu infection are still being
examined as the hospital had not treated anyone with the contagious flu.
Since it was first reported here in May, the H1N1 virus has claimed the lives of
16 South Koreans, including one infant. Most were categorized as "highly
vulnerable" patients who were either elderly or suffering from chronic diseases.
The government is scurrying to stockpile antiviral drugs and vaccines for fear
the flu may spread further and plans to vaccinate 27 percent of its population of
49 million by February next year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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