Across Asia: The Philippines

Flu death shuts Congress

The Philippines closed down the lower house of Congress for five days yesterday and sent about 3,000 workers home after cases of influenza A (H1N1) were reported in the offices, officials said.

A 49-year-old woman who died last week from symptoms exacerbated by the flu was a staff member on a congressional committee, said Ramon Roque, a doctor and deputy secretary-general of the House of Representatives.