DOHA: A 43-year-old Qatari man died here yesterday due to influenza A (H1N1), the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) said.
This is the first death in the country this year caused by the virus. Influenza A is a different strain of H1N1, which caused several deaths across the world in 2009. The citizen was admitted to a hospital on March 23 complaining of difficulty in breathing and a rise in temperature, the SCH said in a statement.
Medical examinations showed that the patient was suffering from severe pneumonia and was given anti-flu treatment. He was admitted to the intensive care unit under the supervision of a medical team but his condition did not improve and he died yesterday, the statement added.
The SCH said it was closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with the National Influenza Centre of Hamad Medical Corporation, which is one of the accredited centres in the world operating under the supervision the World Health Organisation (WHO) to diagnose the influenza virus and provide the necessary information.
The Council appealed to citizens and residents to take preventive measures and visit the nearest health centre when flu symptoms were suspected, especially a rise in temperature, coughing, sneezing or shortness of breath.
The Council stressed the importance of vaccination against influenza, especially for people at risk of influenza complications, including the elderly, persons suffering from chronic diseases, children under five, pregnant women and people suffering from immune deficiency.
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