Two More Die From Influenza A Over Weekend

Influenza A claimed its fifth and sixth victims in Korea over the weekend.

A 73-year-old woman died Saturday and a 67-year-old man yesterday. The two lived in the Seoul metropolitan region and were members of the high risk group, as they suffered from high blood pressure and chronic liver disease.

The woman had high blood pressure and was infected with the flu after departing for the U.S. Aug. 13. She suffered from high fever and coughing Aug. 24, the day after her return to Korea.

She was hospitalized at the intensive care unit, when she was confirmed as an influenza A patient.

The man died of multiple organ failure yesterday after beginning coughing Aug. 20. He was diagnosed with pneumonia four days later.

While undergoing treatment at a hospital, he briefly had a heart attack. Suspecting heart failure, doctors tested him for influenza A and confirmed he tested positive Aug. 27.

The two belonged to the typical high risk group but were given anti-viral medication too late, which ultimately led to their deaths. The woman simply took a medical checkup after her 10-day trip ended, while the man went to the doctor four days after developing symptoms.

Kwon Joon-wook, head of the infectious disease control division at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said yesterday, “Of the six influenza A victims in Korea, five belonged to the high risk group of sufferers of chronic illness.”

“It is important that those deemed having high risk promptly take medical treatment as soon as they develop symptoms such as high fever and coughing.”

isityou@donga.com