Namibia man dies from H1N1 virus

WINDHOEK — The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed the death of a 45-year-old man who was diagnosed last week with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.

The man, whose identity has not yet been revealed, died in the Windhoek Catholic Hospital on Friday, the Ministry’s acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, David Uirab, said here Sunday.

Uirab said that the number of H1N1 cases diagnosed so far stood at seven on Friday, including a six-month-old boy, who was admitted and treated for a flu-like illness on June 22 and later tested positive for the virus.

The Ministry in a media statement last week said it had classified the virus as seasonal influenza after the 2009 pandemic. The virus has been circulating in the last decade, all year round. However, cases peak during winter, meaning people will get ill from this particular strain.

The virus is primarily transmitted through coughing and sneezing or direct contact with surfaces contaminated with infected droplets. People most at risk are children under the age of five years, elderly people over 65 years, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems. Bernama