Saturday, August 8, 2009

Second SA swine flu death confirmed

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Aug 08 2009 09:56

South Africa's second swine flu death was confirmed in Bloemfontein on Saturday, amid media reports that the victim died from blood poisoning.

The 15-year-old teenager was admitted to Pelonomi Hospital with pneumonia symptoms but the health department confirmed he died of the N1H1 virus.

"We have confirmed it with the National Institute of
Communicable Diseases (NICD)," said health department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe.

Tests were also carried out on a Western Cape man, Johann Hack, who died on Tuesday.

"The tests have been done and we are waiting for the NICD to officially notify us," Hadebe said.

If confirmed, Hack would be the country's third victim.

Earlier this week, it was thought that a man from KwaZulu-Natal had also died from the pandemic.

"But the specimen was not enough therefore the laboratory tests were not conclusive," said Hadebe.

The 44-year-old man from Phoenix was admitted to Mount Edgecombe hospital earlier with pneumonia symptoms.

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