The direct cause of death on November 6 of a woman who contracted the novel flu virus was heart failure. The spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, Zuzana
Čižmáriková, provided this information to SITA newswire based on the results of an autopsy conducted by the Health Care Supervision Office.
An hour after the 48-year-old woman was hospitalised in a Bratislava hospital, doctors had to resuscitate her because she suffered from serious arrhythmia. Her overall circulation failed. The women was put into induced sleep and connected to respiratory equipment. Six hours later the critical situation repeated, but this time doctors failed to resuscitate her, which was confirmed by the autopsy as well.
Slovakia is well-prepared for a possible flu pandemic but the situation is now stable and the number of registered flu cases is not exceeding the norm, Health Minister Richard Raši told TASR on November 9.
“We've devised pandemic plans and are able to secure 30,000 hospital beds if needed,” said Raši, adding that pharmacies are full of regular flu vaccines.
“With respect to regular flu, I recommend that people should get inoculated. I did so myself," he said. Ordinary flu is also spreading in Ukraine, reaching the same number of cases as in past years, Raši pointed out. SITA, TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
10. Nov 2009 at 10:00