Brunei's first H1N1 casualty is girl aged 12

Public must follow advice on hospital visits, not bring children under 12

BRUNEI recorded its first casualty related to Influenza A (H1N1) yesterday when a 12-year-old girl who suffered from multiple chronic complications died after contracting the virus.

The Minister of Health said that the girl, suffering from auto-immune hepatitis, end-stage liver failure and pneumonia, was admitted into the Sengkurong Clinic on June 14 for her chronic complications.

She became critically ill on June 26, before passing away yesterday. Tests for Influenza A (H1N1) were also carried out because of her symptoms and the results returned positive.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Health yesterday, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman speculated that the infection could have accelerated her death.

"Although we do not know how long she could live, but because of H1N1, her life was shortened," he said.

"We have already informed the girl's family members that she was infected with Influenza A (H1N1) to be careful and isolate themselves and to take extra precautions," said the minister, adding that Tamiflu would be given to the family members as a prophylaxis (measure to prevent disease).

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi added that the ministry will investigate how the girl contracted the infection.

He further reinforced the need for the public to comply with advice of the ministry with regards to visiting hospitals, exposing exiting patients to germs and bacteria brought in from external sources.

"This is one of the causes that might have exposed this young girl to Influenza A (H1N1)," he explained.

"You never know what you may have and you never know who you will infect," he said.

"If you infect someone with chronic complications, it may be fatal for that person," added Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi.

The minister also reminded everyone to carry out such visits only during the designated visiting hours and to limit visitors to only two per patients.

Parents should also refrain from bringing children under the age of 12 to hospitals and health centres.

The Brunei Times