Science and Health

Brazil confirms 3rd death from A H1N1 flu in 2011

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-17 10:22

RIO DE JANEIRO - The Health Secretariat of southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state Thursday confirmed the third death from A H1N1 flu in the state this year.

So far, no deaths from A H1N1 flu were confirmed in any other states of Brazil, though some cases are currently being investigated.

According to the Secretariat, the flu victim was a 42-year-old woman from the town of Pelotas, who had not been vaccinated against the disease and had low immunity. She died on June 11.

The other victims in the state were a 48-year-old woman who died on June 6 and a 71-year-old man who died on June 9. Besides the three deaths, another three cases of A H1N1 flu were confirmed in the state, and 42 are currently being investigated.

Local authorities assured that there is no epidemic of A H1N1 flu in the state, but they took measures to keep control of the situation, such as increasing the stock of flu vaccines, from 180,000 to 280,000. ? ? ? ? ? ?

Brazil's Health Ministry will also send 200,000 doses of antivirals to the state to be used in patients who show flu symptoms.

In the 2009 A H1N1 flu epidemic, Brazil registered over 58,000 cases of the disease and 1,705 deaths.