By Kim Rahn
Concerns are rising over the reemergence of influenza A, as it has claimed seven lives so far.
The virus isn’t causing the same shockwaves it did last winter because people are now aware of the disease and the treatment as well, but it could pose serious trouble, experts warned.
On Dec. 29, a 30-year-old man died from the H1N1 virus on the outskirts of Seoul. Since then, a total of seven have reportedly died from the flu nationwide. A man in his 40s in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, took the antiviral drug Tamiflu after being found to have pneumonia on Dec. 30, but fell unconscious the next day. He was later confirmed to have influenza A.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday, approximately 24 people out of every 1,000 were suspected of being infected with the virus between Dec. 19 and 25. It is about half of the figure from 2009 when the epidemic reached a peak, but far larger than 2.9, the standard number determining whether a disease is prevalent or not.
The health authorities say the large number of patients this year is a passing phase that happens for a couple of years after a pandemic. “There’s no need to worry, as the H1N1 influenza has become an ordinary flu, which can be prevented through vaccination,” an official of the centers said.
Because the authorities consider influenza A a common flu, they do not collect the number of H1N1 flu patients and hospitals don’t report the cases to the authorities.
Doctors say many flu patients with a cough, fever and muscular pain may have influenza A, as the H1N1 virus has gotten stronger in the weeks-long cold spell.
Pediatric, otolaryngology and internal departments at hospitals are seeing patients with coughs who ask doctors if they have influenza A or how they can be tested.
During the previous pandemic last winter, the government provided Tamiflu to public health centers and pharmacies. Following a lull in the spread of the virus, it stopped doing so and made each pharmacy secure the drug according to its own needs.
But with influenza A reemerging, pharmacies are now hurriedly securing as many drugs as possible. Some regions are seeing stocks running out, and pharmacies say the drug manufacturer’s supply is not matching the demand.
The government said recently that it will provide 200,000 doses of Tamiflu to pharmacies through the end of this month.