One Dead From H1n1 İn Western Turkey

A 53-year-old woman died from the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, in the western province of Kocaeli on March 15, raising concerns over the increasing number of dangerous flu cases in the country.

The woman, identified as Güler Akbaş, was receiving treatment at Farabi State Hospital after being hospitalized on March 13 due to fever.

Two people, one at Farabi State Hospital and one at Kocaeli University Training and Research Hospital, have also been diagnosed with H1N1 virus in the city, reports said.

The Health Ministry is expected to release a statement over the cases.

Meanwhile, influenza cases created panic at a prison in the Mediterranean province of Antalya's Alanya district, raising questions on whether the convicts were suffering from swine flu.

One person with influenza suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital, triggering prison officials to conduct health checks on the other inmates.

Nine patients diagnosed with bronchitis, cold or influenza were transferred to hospital for detailed examinations and their blood examples were sent to Ankara.

Alanya State Hospital head doctor Tevfik Yazan said there were no patients in the hospital who were receiving treatment for swine flu.

Fever, headache, sore throat, general body ache, nasal flow, coughing, respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea are among the symptoms of the disease.

Authorities advise people who suffer one of the symptoms combined with a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius to see a doctor immediately. - Istanbul