The Ministry of Health is appealing to people who fall within the high-risk groups for severe complications to seek treatment early if they experience symptoms of Influenza infection.

This comes as the country recorded its fourth Influenza A(H1N1) associated death. The latest patient is a pregnant woman who had other illnesses including lung-related complications.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Winston De La Haye advised that people with other illnesses usually experience more severe symptoms of Influenza A(H1N1) which can lead to a worsening of their pre-existing condition.

To date, four people have died, all of whom had severe complications including heart-and lung-related illnesses.

“Patients in the high-risk groups usually have other illnesses made worse by the infection or a compromised immune system. We generally see the greatest effects in persons with non-communicable diseases such as heart-and lung-related illnesses and respiratory diseases such as asthma,” Dr De La Haye said.

Influenza presents with symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, headache and body aches and fatigue. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can occur.