Kathmandu, August 6

With the death of a 67-year-old patient yesterday, the death toll from pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm 09 has reached nine, according to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Teku.

The patient died in Vayodha Hospital, Balkhu. The patient was airlifted to the hospital on July 31 from Lumbini Medical College, Palpa.

The cause of the death was confirmed by the National Public Health Laboratory, Teku.

The report of the death was sent to EDCD by the hospital, said Ravi Chaudhary, group executive director, Vayodha Group of Hospitals. “The patient was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition. He died of multiple organ failure during the course of treatment,” added Chaudhary.

“We were informed about the death as Epidemology and Disease Control Division has asked hospitals to immediately submit the report of influenza patients in Kathmandu Valley,” said Dr Guna Nidhi Sharma, section chief for epidemiology at EDCD.

Two other patients from Jhapa also died of the influenza.

Meanwhile, a team deployed by the government to Palpa has collected eight samples from Lumbini Medical College, Palpa. The test report of the samples has yet to come.

Similarly, of the 20 samples collected from Walling, Syangja, five have tested positive for pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.

A total of 353 patients have tested positive for pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 since January.

Children below the age of two years, elderly above the age of 65 years and persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV, asthma, lung cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, hepatitis are at high risk of contracting the influenza, as per Dr Sharma.

Eight persons had died of the influenza in Jajarkot in 2015. Likewise ,140 cases of influenza were reported from August 7 to 13 in 2016, although there were no deaths.

Dr Sharma advised all to wash hands with soap and water, drink plenty of fluids, avoid handshakes, and maintain a distance while talking with people and sit in a well-ventilated room to stay safe from infection.