1st Swine Flu Death in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday the country’s first death from Influenza A(H1N1), a 49-year-old mother who was known to have other pre-existing illnesses.
The latest total count of infected cases nationwide soared to 445 after 17 more were recorded yesterday. The good news, however, is that out of the total cases, 374 have fully recovered.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that based on the autopsy report, the viral infection was not the primary cause of the death, but rather “congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction aggravated by severe pneumonia – either bacterial, viral or both.”
“This one is a very interesting case. It embodies several high-risk and pre-disposing factors that accelerated the death (of the patient). It is in line with what we have been saying for several weeks, that complicated cases will be encountered,” Duque noted at a press conference.
Aside from congestive heart disease, the patient was found to have tuberculosis, enlarged liver, kidney and spleen, tumor in the uterus and tyromegaly or goiter.
The patient was not even in the DOH’s records of suspected and confirmed A(H1N1) cases and had no history of travel to countries that have the virus.
According to Duque, the patient came home from work with a cough last June 17 and developed fever, cold and chills the following day so she did not report for work.
On June 19, the patient was no longer able to take her breakfast and suddenly experienced difficulty in breathing. She died even before the doctor called by her family arrived.
The next day, the brother notified Duque about the incident and throat swab samples were collected from the patient.
The specimens tested positive for A(H1N1).
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