News on influenza A(H1N1)
20.10.2009
First death in Iceland from influenza A(H1N1)v 2009
An 18-year old girl with multiple disabilities died yesterday morning from influenza A(H1N1)v 2009 in the Children’s Hospital at Landspitali University Hospital (LUH). She fell ill 11 days earlier and was admitted to hospital last Thursday. This is the first death in Iceland from influenza A(H1N1)v 2009. It should be noted that the girl received good and appropriate care and treatment, both at home and while in hospital.
The influenza epidemic is still on the increase, particularly in the capital area, but is also widespread in rural areas. In the past three weeks the number of confirmed cases has almost doubled each week. At the same time, the work load on health service staff has increased considerably, both at primary care level and at the LUH.
At noon on 19 October, 26 patients were being treated for influenza at the LUH, four of them at the intensive care unit. Since last Friday, 16 October, five influenza patients were admitted to the hospital and three were discharged in the same period.
Approximately 60 persons have been hospitalised at the LUH because of influenza since the beginning of the epidemic.
From 29 June to 18 October 2009, 3.660 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or confirmed cases of influenza of A(H1N1)v 2009 had been reported in Iceland according to electronic patient record registrations. The total number of confirmed cases had reached 479.
Further information
Notices concerning influenza preparedness measures in Iceland will continue to be issued on www.influensa.is, in both Icelandic and English.
For more details on influenza A (H1N1)v in EU/EFTA countries, please click here: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/ For more on the world situation see also: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Chief Epidemologist for Iceland
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