A 51-year-old school teacher was reported as being the eighth fatality related to the A (H1N1) virus in Malaysia.

According to the Star , the teacher was attached to a school in Selangor which was closed on July 27.

She was said to have an underlying heart disease and pnuemonia.

h1n1 flu pandemic ismail merican 260609 Earlier today, it was reported that a 23-year-old native woman in Sarawak died at 4am today just two weeks after giving birth to her first child.

The woman died at the intensive care unit of the Miri Hospital

at 4am today after suffering from acute pneumonia, Health Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican was quoted as saying by Bernama .

This is the first Influenza A(H1N1) death in Sarawak.

Ismail said the victim had given birth to a baby girl at the same hospital on July 21.

"After giving birth, she was found to be suffering from acute pneumonia and was tested positive for the Influenza A(H1N1) on July 23.

"She was feverish and was coughing about four days prior to delivering the baby. Her baby is safe and is confirmed to be free of the Influenza A(H1N1) infection," he said.

17 new cases

Meanwhile, Ismail said 17 new cases were reported today, all of which are local transmissions involving Malaysians.

This brought the number of cases nationwide to 1,446 as at 8am today, with a recovery rate of 97 percent.

Twenty-nine patients are still receiving antiviral treatments in hospitals while nine others are receiving them in their homes.

He also said that the Health Ministry was still flooded with inquiries on ways to prevent the disease.

swine flu h1n1 flu pandemic 180509 Among the steps to be taken, he said, was to avoid crowded places, observe hygiene such as washing hands regularly and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing.

"The ministry is confident that with the cooperation of all, the Influenza A(H1N1) situation in Malaysia can be contained," he said.