Brain death flu victim becomes ninth local to die
Published: 23 Sep. 2009, 00:23
A brain-dead woman died yesterday from complications caused by the A(H1N1) flu virus, the ninth Korean death to be linked with the flu, according to the Health Ministry.
The woman, who was in her 40s, lived in the metropolitan area of Seoul. She was pronounced brain dead on Sept. 4 after testing positive for the new flu and then suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
She had developed a high fever in late August and was later diagnosed with pneumonia but she wasn’t classified in a high-risk group because she hadn’t previously experienced chronic respiratory conditions, as others had.
Local health authorities confirmed on Sept. 8 that her brain death was directly caused by the virus and explained that the flu infection had led to encephalitis.
Three more flu patients remain in a serious condition, the ministry said. A total of nine patients have been admitted to hospitals for observation.
As the fall flu season approaches, government officials have pledged to secure flu vaccines for 13.5 million people and have scrambled to tone down or cancel large public events in fear of mass infections.
The ceremony for Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 has been scaled down.
The National Defense Ministry said yesterday it had canceled a street parade for the ceremony, which will take place at Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong, where the Army, Air Force and Navy are jointly headquartered.
The base is near the metropolitan city of Daejeon. According to Kang Chang-goo, the army colonel in charge of planning the event, the Daejeon authorities had first asked for the street parade in the city but later withdrew the request.
The ministry expects more than 3,000 attendees, including retired generals, war veterans, Korean and American soldiers and civilian representatives.
It said all participants will be checked for fever and other flu symptoms before the event.
Kang said participants will be inspected at three stops: before they get on a shuttle bus to Gyeryongdae, at the main entrance to the base and finally before they are seated for the ceremony. Only those who pass the tests will be permitted on base, Kang added.
This fall, regional authorities have complained that they have been under pressure to cancel or tone down public events while the central government has gone ahead with its ceremonies.
In the first week of September, 64 of 777 festivals organized by local governments were canceled, suspended or scaled down, according to the Ministry of Public Administration.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
The woman, who was in her 40s, lived in the metropolitan area of Seoul. She was pronounced brain dead on Sept. 4 after testing positive for the new flu and then suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
She had developed a high fever in late August and was later diagnosed with pneumonia but she wasn’t classified in a high-risk group because she hadn’t previously experienced chronic respiratory conditions, as others had.
Local health authorities confirmed on Sept. 8 that her brain death was directly caused by the virus and explained that the flu infection had led to encephalitis.
Three more flu patients remain in a serious condition, the ministry said. A total of nine patients have been admitted to hospitals for observation.
As the fall flu season approaches, government officials have pledged to secure flu vaccines for 13.5 million people and have scrambled to tone down or cancel large public events in fear of mass infections.
The ceremony for Armed Forces Day on Oct. 1 has been scaled down.
The National Defense Ministry said yesterday it had canceled a street parade for the ceremony, which will take place at Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong, where the Army, Air Force and Navy are jointly headquartered.
The base is near the metropolitan city of Daejeon. According to Kang Chang-goo, the army colonel in charge of planning the event, the Daejeon authorities had first asked for the street parade in the city but later withdrew the request.
The ministry expects more than 3,000 attendees, including retired generals, war veterans, Korean and American soldiers and civilian representatives.
It said all participants will be checked for fever and other flu symptoms before the event.
Kang said participants will be inspected at three stops: before they get on a shuttle bus to Gyeryongdae, at the main entrance to the base and finally before they are seated for the ceremony. Only those who pass the tests will be permitted on base, Kang added.
This fall, regional authorities have complained that they have been under pressure to cancel or tone down public events while the central government has gone ahead with its ceremonies.
In the first week of September, 64 of 777 festivals organized by local governments were canceled, suspended or scaled down, according to the Ministry of Public Administration.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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