2 A/H1N1 flu patients in critical condition in Singapore

SINGAPORE, July 15 -- Singapore's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday two new patients, both women, are under intensive care after having contracted flu A/H1N1 virus.

A 45-year-old woman with multiple co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and peripheral vascular disease, is now in critical condition in intensive care unit (ICU),the Health Ministry said on its website.

The patient was admitted to local hospital on July 4 after two days of vomiting and diarrhoea. She was also on immunosuppressants as she had undergone a kidney transplant in 2006.

"Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to ICU on July 12. Laboratory tests confirmed that she was also infected with A/H1N1," the ministry said.

Another patient is a 22-year-old woman, who is 24 weeks pregnant and was admitted to local hospital on July 13 when she developed pneumonia. She was then tested positive for A/H1N1 at a private hospital.

She was transferred to ICU for closer monitoring as her requirement for oxygen increased, according to the ministry.

There are currently 50 confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases in Singapore hospitals, including three in ICU, according to the ministry.

A 51-year-old patient with multiple co-morbidities was sent in ICU earlier this month, and the Health Ministry said that the patient is in stable condition.

Singapore reported its first confirmed case of influenza A/H1N1on May 27. On June 18, the country confirmed its first locally infected case. According to the latest official data, Singapore has confirmed over 1,200 cases.