Two die from A(H1N1) virus

Beijing health authorities said Sunday that two people have died of A(H1N1) from December 27 to January 4.

According to the Beijing Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) a 22-year-old woman died on December 27, who also had anemia, and a 65-year-old woman died on January, 4, who had late-stage bone cancer. The young woman's death from this strain of the flu was the first reported in Beijing in 2012.

"The A(H1N1) is the same virus as that in 2009. So far the disease is under control," Pang Xinhuo, the vice director of the CDC told the Global Times Sunday.

Patients with underlying conditions, children and the elderly have a greater susceptibility to the disease, said Pang.

According to the latest CDC report, 28,567 people attended clinics because of flu from December 24 to 30, the highest number since 2008. Of these patients, the CDC took a closer look at 375 people, and discovered 92 had the A(H1N1) virus.

"Such a high number of people getting flu is largely because of the cold weather this year. With the approach of the Spring Festival, the greater mobility of people will have a bad effect on the spread of the virus," said Pang.

According to Pang, if the virus spreads in the future, they will quickly inform the public.

"As it's the same as the 2009 strain, we have drugs and vaccines to combat it. If the virus mutates to a new strain, we'll inform the public," said Pang.

The A(H1N1) virus was first identified in 2009 in Mexico, and it became commonly known as swine flu. The symptoms of A(H1N1) are similar to general flu, and it can spread through the air, or by coughs, sneezes and physical contact.

From July, 2009 to January 17, 2010, 10,966 people caught A(H1N1) in Beijing, and 76 people died, according to the Beijing News on January 6.

Pang said the recent deaths are the only ones in the last two years but she did not have figures for 2010.

Around 1.65 million people have already been inoculated with a flu vaccine that can fight against A(H1N1) in Beijing this winter, Pang said.

"People should pay attention to hygiene. It's better to wear a gauze mask when you go out, and being in fresh air and washing hands are important," noted Pang.

Wang Shan, director of Peking Union University People's Hospital said people should not worry about the possibility of another SARS-like epidemic.

"Even if there is possibility of the A(H1N1) flu becoming widely spread, no big tragedy like SARS in 2003 will happen. The Beijing government and hospitals have strengthened their procedures for contagious disease," said Wang.