Japan reports its 54th death from H1N1 flu virus
By Channel NewsAsia's Japan Bureau Chief Michiyo Ishida | Posted: 11 November 2009 0045 hrs

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TOKYO: Japan has reported its 54th death from the H1N1 flu virus. The latest victim is a 7-month-old baby, and it is the first time someone so young has died from the virus in a country with one of the world's best health and sanitation levels.

More people are wearing masks than usual, with some wearing them to keep themselves from being infected. According to experts, most people with a cold are likely to have caught the H1N1 virus.

Nobuhiko Okabe, director of Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said: "The total estimated number of people with flu is 5 million. Most are susceptible to H1N1, which means they have a chance of catching it.

"It was estimated that 20 to 50 per cent of people had suffered from past pandemics such as Spanish flu, Chinese flu, or Hong Kong flu. So we have to prepare for the H1N1 outbreak."

The H1N1 vaccination began on October 19 in half of Japan's prefectures. The first to receive the vaccines were doctors and nurses, followed by expecting mothers with ailments.

Now the virus is fast spreading around Japan.

Some reports said that there is not enough vaccine to cover even the first group of recipients.

As for the drug Tamiflu, Dr Okabe said it is not necessarily as effective as the vaccine against measles or polio.

A comparative study was conducted in New York City and Osaka. Students infected with the H1N1 virus in Osaka were given Tamiflu, while those in New York were not. And the result was the same.

"According to reports from various countries, it reduces the chance of pneumonia. But on whether it can prevent encephalopathy, it may not be effective. On whether Tamiflu can help reduce the risk of death, we have to watch how things go," Dr Okabe added.

Young children with H1N1 in Japan tend to develop encephalopathy, which is a disease of the brain. The reason for this is not yet known.

Young teenagers are also more likely to develop serious conditions. But, overall, the largest group of people dying from the flu is still the elderly.

- CNA/sc