Two people died of H1N1 flu in Beijing recently, but Chinese health officials said the situation is not as threatening as it was in 2009.

The deaths occurred since late December after the patients contracted the virus, previously called swine flu, China Daily reported.

The report quoted the Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that despite its potential to cause harm, the virus is not as threatening and can be contained.

The report said both the victims of influenza A, or H1N1, virus were already in poor health when they were affected, said Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the agency.

One of them was a 22-year-old suffering anemia, and the other a 65-year-old with terminal stage bone marrow cancer, Pang said, China Daily reported.

The virus caused panic across the world in 2009 as it spread. It killed at least 80 people in Beijing in 2009 and 2010, the report said.

Although flu viruses can pose a greater threat during the current unusually cold winter, Beijing health officials said its prevalence has been within expectations.

One official said in 2009, most people were very susceptible to the newly discovered virus, but since then many have developed immunity to it. (UPI)


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신종플루 사망자 발생, 또 시작인가

최근 중국 베이징에서 신종 플루(H1N1 flu)로 두 명이 사망했으나 상황이 2009년만큼 심각하지는 않다고 중국 당국이 전했다.

두 명은 12월 말 바이러스에 감염된 것으로 보인다고 차이나데일리(China Daily)가 보도했다.

중국 질병관리본부 관계자인 팡 싱후오(Pang Xinghuo)는 사망한 환자들이 바이러스 감염 전에도 건강 상태가 좋지 않았다고 전했다. 두 사람은 22세, 65세였으며 각각 빈혈, 골수암에 시달리고 있었다.

신종플루는 2009년 중국을 강타해 이로 인해 2009년, 2010년에 걸쳐 베이징에서 80명이 사망했다.

2009년 신종플루 바이러스가 처음 발견되었을 때보다 현재 많은 사람들이 신종플루 면역력을 갖추고 있다고 중국 당국이 전했다. (코리아헤럴드)