Pandemic (h1n1) 2009 (05): Mbds region-asia

22-JUL-2009
Subject	PRO/MBDS> Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (05): MBDS region

In this update:
[1] China (mainland): 1537 confirmed cases
{2] Laos: 51 confirmed cases, 1st confirmed death
[3] Thailand: 6776 confirmed cases and 44 confirmed deaths
[4] Viet Nam: 443 confirmed cases******

[1] China (mainland): 1537 confirmed casesDate: Fri 17 Jul 2009Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/17/content_11726625.htm>Chinese mainland A (H1N1) flu cases top 1500--------------------------------------------------------The Chinese mainland confirmed 93 new cases of the A (H1N1) influenza from 6 p.m. Wednesday [15 Jul 2009] to 6 p.m. Friday [17 Jul 2009], putting the total at 1537, the Ministry of Health said.Among the newly confirmed, 56 were "imported cases." The other 37 were infected in the Chinese mainland, the ministry said. Among the patients, 1263 have been cured and discharged from hospitals.No fatal or critical cases of the influenza have been reported on the Chinese mainland so far, but a patient in Hangzhou of eastern Zhejiang Province reportedly died of electrocution caused by leakage of electricity from the electrical circuits in her ward lavatory on [1 Jul 2009].[Editor: Yan]--Communicated by:PRO/MBDS<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>[For a map of China with provinces, see <http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_pol01.jpg>. For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of China with links to other ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings in China and surrounding areas, see <http://healthmap.org/r/008e>. - Mod.YMA]******

[2] Laos: 51 confirmed cases, 1st confirmed deathDate: Wed 22 Jul 2009Source: Lao News Agency (KPL) [edited]<http://www.kpl.net.la/english/news/edn3.htm>

New type flu claims one life----------------------------The National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office yesterday [21 Jul 2009] confirmed 51 people infected with new type influenza A (H1N1) and that the virus has claimed one life in Borikhamsay province.[Nationwide there are 51 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1)], of which 47 cases have recovered and 3 patients are receiving medical treatment at the hospitals.[Of the 51 cases 27 were found in Vientiane Capital, 4 in Vientiane province, one in Luang Prabang province, one in Khammouane province, 9 in Savannakhet province, 7 in Champassak province, one case in Saravane province, and one man who died in Borikhamsay province on 17 Jul 2009].[The 31-year-old flu victim who died had a fever for some days this month (July 2009); he sought treatment in a few clinics in Paksane district. On [14 Jul 2009] he was in critical condition at the provincial hospital and on [17 Jul 2009] he was taken to a hospital in Vientiane Capital where he died the same day. Contributing factors were his weight of 111 kg (245 lb) weight and many underlying diseases.]A team of the National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office went to the victim's house to disinfect it and prevent the spread of the virus.--Communicated by:PRO/MBDS<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>[For a map of Laos with provinces, see <http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/laos.pdf>. For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Laos with links to other recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS reports on events in Laos and surrounding areas, see <http://healthmap.org/r/00cX>. - Mod.YMA][Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for more serious disease with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in the United States. Recent articles in the CDC, MMWR have discussed obesity as a risk factor. Nine out of 10 seriously ill patients hospitalized in Michigan were found to be obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30), with 7 of them seriously obese (BMI greater than 40). (see Intensive-Care Patients With Severe Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection --- Michigan, June 2009. MMWR. 10 Jul 2009 / 58(Dispatch);1-4 available at: <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58d0710a1.htm>.) Severe obesity was described in a newswire reporting the 17th death in Thailand, a woman from Ratchaburi province with a BMI greater than 40 (see prior PRO/MBDS posting Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (03): MBDS region 20090712.2497). Obesity has also been mentioned as a risk factor for severe disease by WHO (see prior PRO/MBDS posting Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (24): case count, pandemic 20090612.2167). - Mod.MPP]******

[3] Thailand: 6776 confirmed cases and 44 confirmed deathsDate: Wed 22 Jul 2009Source: Bangkok Post [edited]<http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/health/149792/flu-toll-rises-to-44-with-6776-infected>

Flu toll rises to 44, with 6776 infected----------------------------------------The swine flu death toll has more than doubled from 20 last week [week of 13 Jul 2009] to 44, while the total number of confirmed A (H1N1) flu cases has rocketed to 6776, the Public Health Ministry reported on Wednesday [22 Jul 2009].Health deputy permanent secretary Paichit Varachit said 6697 patients had recovered. Thirty-five others remained in hospitals and 7 of them were in critical condition.Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said he had instructed provincial governors, doctors and nurses nationwide to implement more stringent measures to curb the A (H1N1) flu outbreak."Provincial authorities need to educate people about the disease and ways to protect themselves from being infected so they do not panic," Dr Witthaya said.Government officials and employees of state enterprises with flu-like symptoms can rest at home without having to get medical certificates, and they would not lose their holidays and other benefits, he said."Thailand's ranking in the number of swine flu cases and fatalities has not really risen to 4th place, as other countries have stopped reporting on the flu situation," the minister said.--Communicated by:PRO/MBDS<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>[For a map of Thailand showing the geographic regions, see <http://thailandforvisitors.com/general/regions.html>. For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with links to other ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings in Thailand and neighboring countries, see <http://healthmap.org/r/00cC>. - Mod.YMA]******

[4] Viet Nam: 443 confirmed casesDate: Wed 22 Jul 2009Source: VietNamNet Bridge [edited]<http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/07/859445/>

Nation at high risk for rapid spread of H1N1 flu------------------------------------------------The Ministry of Health yesterday [21 Jul 2009], warned of the high risk that the A (H1N1) flu could spread, especially during the upcoming winter weather, which would provide favourable conditions for the virus to develop.A flu report to the Prime Minister said the A (H1N1) flu virus had spread quickly into the community. It particularly noted 2 flu clusters that were recently found in Viet Kieu hamlet, Xuan Hiep commune, Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province and at the Ngo Thoi Nhiem Private High School in District 9, HCM [Ho Chi Minh] City.As of yesterday [21 Jul 2009], 84 of the country's A (H1N1) positive patients were relatives of overseas Vietnamese patients who had returned to Dong Nai from the US."The health sector has found 61 teachers and pupils from the Ngo Thoi Nhiem Private High School in District 9, HCM City, to be positive for the virus. The number of patients will rise high in the coming time," said Director of the Preventive Medicine and Environment under the Ministry of Health (MoH) Nguyen Huy Nga. "Signs have shown that the A (H1N1) flu pandemic has spread into the community," said Nga.Viet Nam has begun to see signs of A (H1N1) flu in the community more than 50 days after the 1st reported case. So far, all patients have been isolated, closely monitored and effectively treated for quick recovery.Health experts have warned that when the A (H1N1) flu spreads widely into the community, Viet Nam will face challenges in its control. An increasing number of patients and even fatalities are unavoidable. In particular, people suffering from chronic diseases, weak immune systems, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and obese people are vulnerable to the flu.At present, the health sector is focusing its activities on closely monitoring patients, isolating suspected cases, and treating positive patients in a timely manner. The health sector has made efforts to prepare sufficient drugs, hospital beds, medical facilities, and isolation areas for a pandemic, according to Nga.The MoH [Ministry of Health] yesterday [21 Jul 2009] confirmed 35 new A (H1N1) flu cases, bring the nation's total to 443 cases and no fatalities since the onset of the threat. Of all cases, 328 have been discharged from hospitals and the rest are stable, resting in isolation and undergoing treatment.--Communicated by:PRO/MBDS<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[To date, a total of 45 deaths attributable to influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection have been identified in the MBDS region, which include one death reported in Laos and 44 deaths reported in Thailand.Viet Nam confirmed community-level transmission of influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in the country on 21 Jul 2009. This was the 2nd domestic outbreak in Viet Nam and it occurred in a private high school where 41 students and teachers were found to be infected (see <http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/07/859257/>).For maps of Viet Nam with provinces, see <http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/vietnam_admin01.jpg> and <http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/vnmap.html>.

The interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with direct links to other outbreaks in Viet Nam and surrounding countries reported on ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS can be accessed at <http://healthmap.org/r/008c>.Singapore, Egypt, Guam, Panama, and Venezuela have each reported 1st deaths attributable to influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in their countries (see <http://www.chinaview.cn/health/world.htm>). In addition, in the USA, Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico have recently confirmed their 1st deaths attributable to influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection (see <http://www.china.org.cn/health/swineflu/2009-07/18/content_18159240.htm>). - Mod.YMA]