MANILA, 24 July 2009, 16:00 hrs – Additional deaths related to the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus were reported in Australia and Malaysia as senior health officials in the Western Pacific Region called for continued vigilance against the disease.
Australia’s Ministry of Health and Ageing reported that a 25-year-old man in the state of South Australia died on 22 July after being diagnosed with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, in addition to pre-existing medical conditions. Australia has reported 44 fatalities linked to the virus.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health said a 30-year old man from Indonesia had died of cardiac arrest on 21 July in Kuala Lumpur. The Ministry said the man had vacationed in Indonesia and returned to Malaysia on 5 July with a cough, but did not immediately seek treatment.
There have been 67 virus-related deaths reported in the Region. In New Zealand, where 11 such fatalities have been announced, Director of Public Health Dr Mark Jacobs said continued vigilance was needed as some people were experiencing severe illness after catching the virus.
“The threat from this new virus is real and something we are likely to have to face for some time yet,” Dr Jacobs said. “Most of the severe cases occur in people with significant underlying health conditions.”
In Taiwan (China), senior officials at the Central Epidemic Command Centre highlighted the importance of ensuring the national health care system was up to the task of responding appropriately to severe cases of the disease. In early July, the CECC established a clinical care team to focus on treatment of severe cases, ward management, and the use of antiviral medication.
Brunei Darussalam has reported one fatality linked to the virus, and is continuing to test suspected cases to establish a clear picture of infection levels, according to local media reports. The reports quoted Dr Satoko Otsu, a visiting technical officer from WHO’s Western Pacific Region Office in Manila, as congratulating authorities on their hard work and highlighting the importance of good personal hygiene to minimize transmission.
Several countries in the Western Pacific Region have shifted to a mitigation phase in response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, and are no longer testing all suspected cases nor reporting new confirmed cases daily. As a result, the actual number of infections in the Region is likely to be significantly higher than official WHO figures.
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