Laos reports first A/H1N1 flu death
18:25, 23 July 2009
HANOI. July 23. KAZINFORM A 31-year-old man has died of A/H1N1flu, the first death from the epidemic reported in Laos, the Vientiane Times reported Thursday; Kazinform cites Xinhua.
The man, who lived in Lao province of Borikhamxay, had a history of respiratory problems, obesity and diabetes, said the newspaper. The man, who was not identified, was also a heavy smoker and drinker.
Lifestyle-related factors could lower the man's immunity to the A/H1N1 virus, said Bounlay Phommasack, head of Lao National Emerging Infection Disease Coordination Office.
According to his family, the man had never been abroad before. He showed flu-like symptoms on July 9 and was transferred from a provincial hospital to Lao capital city of Vientiane on July 17. The man died later that day; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
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