A woman civilian staff member at the Kedah police contingent headquarters died of complications from thyroid disease and not Influenza A (H1N1), it was revealed today.

Bernama reports that deputy director-general of health Dr S Jeyaindran said this was confirmed after a review by a specialist from the Health Ministry of the medical record at the private hospital where the 48-year-old woman had undergone treatment.

“The woman was ill and had fever and was sent to a private hospital for treatment. At the hospital, a blood test showed that she was H1N1 positive and it was suspected that she had contracted H1N1.

“The Health Ministry sent its specialist to review the medical report and the specialist confirmed that she had died of thyroid complications and not H1N1,” he told Bernama.

Dr Jeyaindran said that as there had been an H1N1 epidemic in the country, the potential for the people to be exposed to the virus was high.

“However, from time to time, if the contagion becomes aggressive, then it may lead to death,” he added.

The woman died at 11.10am yesterday at a private hospital after attending a meeting of police civilian staff with the inspector-general of police in Malacca last Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a statement on the police’s Facebook page, the force explained that the woman had attended a gathering in Malacca from Dec 2 to 4 at a local hotel.

She complained of not feeling well and her condition worsened until she was admitted to a hospital. However, she was confirmed dead on Dec 5, 2013 at 1.42pm.

The cause of death was Influenza A with Myocarditis, the statement read.