HONG KONG, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia reported the
fourth death related to influenza A/H1N1 in the country Friday while the number
of confirmed cases in Thailand soared to 1,132.
The death of a 71-year-old Melbourne woman was
notified to Australian health department late Thursday night, Victoria's acting
chief health officer Rosemary Lester said.
Lester said A/H1N1 flu is generally mild, but can
affect those with pre-existing medical conditions.
"It is important to remember that in the vast
majority of cases,A/H1N1 flu is a mild illness which many people recover from
without any medical treatment," she said in a statement.
"However, we know that for people with chronic
medical conditions, influenza can be severe."
Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Friday announced
78 more patients, who are confirmed to have infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus,
bringing the country's total number to 1,132.
Some 1,110 patients have already recovered, while the
22 others are still in hospitals, said Public Health Minister Witthaya
Kaewparadai, the website by Thai language newspaper Krungthep Turakij reported.
Philippine health authorities reported 134 more cases
of Influenza A/H1N1 on Friday, pushing the country's total to 861.
However, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that
all the newly-confirmed patients were "responding positively to their
treatments." A total of 634 patients -- or 74 percent of the total-- have fully
recovered since May 21, he added.
The new cases involved 60 males and 74 females, said
the health chief. One hundred eighteen of the patients are Filipinos, and the
remaining are foreigners.
Twenty of these cases have a history of travel to a
country affected by the novel virus, he added.
Malaysia reported 14 new cases of A/H1N1 flu on
Friday, bringing up the total figure to 105.
The Malaysian Health Ministry said that the new cases
involved one locally transmitted patient, while the other 13 involved people
coming from Melbourne in Australia, London in Britain, Phuket in Thailand,
Manila in Philippines, Istanbul in Turkey, and Singapore.
Brunei confirmed seven new cases of A/H1N1 flu on
Thursday, bringing up the total figure to 18.
According to Brunei newspapers on Friday, the seven
patients included two imported cases involved a six-year-old boy who returned to
Brunei from Kuala Lumpur, and a 20-year-old foreigner who arrived in Brunei from
London in Britain, via Kuala Lumpur.
The remaining five patients were locally transmitted
cases, aged between 15 to 23 years old.
Singapore confirmed 50 new cases of Influenza A/H1N1
on Friday, bringing the total tally to 365 confirmed cases.
According to Singapore's Health Ministry, in addition
to these 50 new cases, 48 other cases were pending investigation on Thursday.
The ministry said that with more local cases of
infection appearing, it is important for all people to exercise good hygiene
practices and be socially responsible.
Singapore reported its first confirmed case of
Influenza A/H1N1on May 27.
A spokesman for Hong Kong Department of Health said
there had been 90 newly confirmed cases of A/H1N1 influenza in the 24 hours to
2:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) Friday.
This brings to 596 the total number of A/H1N1
influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman said.
The new cases involve 52 males and 38 females, aged
between 6 and 70, said the spokesman.
The cumulative number of Macao's confirmed cases of
influenza A/H1N1 rose to 15, as two new cases were confirmed here on
Friday.