Thailand - H1N1 - 153 deaths

[FrenchieGirl]

Thailand - A/H1N1 cases confirmed - 1,289

Another Thai woman diagnosed with H1N1 influenza virus

By k on May 30, 2009

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) ? A 52-year-old Thai woman who returned earlier this week from the US and Canada has been found to have contracted the potentially-lethal influenza A (H1N1) virus, according to Dr. Praj Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary for Public Health.

Dr. Praj said the victim went to the U.S. and Canada with her son and eight other persons on May 13. They boarded a luxury cruise liner in Alaska and spent eight nights on the ship.

The party returned to Bangkok on Tuesday, he said. The woman suffered a fever and sore throat the next day and went to see a doctor at a Bangkok hospital and was found to have contracted the disease.

The woman, the third victim of influenza A virus in Thailand following the outbreak of the disease in Mexico, is now recovering after doctors gave her antiviral drug Tamiflu, Dr. Praj said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok deputy governor Dr. Malinee Sukvejvorakij said her office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, had cooperated with the Ministry of Public Health caring for the woman from the beginning when she was sent to hospital for treatment.

The patient has now been went to her home upcountry, Dr. Malinee said. (TNA)

[hornblower]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 cases confirmed

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20090531-145068.html

Third Thai case of Influenza infection

The woman developed a high fever and a runny nose on while still in the US, where she took antipyretics. -The Nation/ANN

Sun, May 31, 2009
The Nation/Asia News Network

By Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

THAILAND: The Public Health Ministry announced yesterday that |a third Thai had been infected by the type-A (H1N1) influenza that has hit more than 50 countries around the world. She has, however, recovered following treatment.

Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot, permanent secretary at the ministry, said a 50-year-old woman had tested positive after visiting the United States for 10 days with her family.

The woman, whose identity was withheld, developed a high fever and a runny nose on May 24 while still in the US, where she took antipyretics.

She returned to Thailand on May 26 and sought medical treatment the same day in a Bangkok hospital.

Prat said her samples had been sent for testing at Siriraj and Chulalongkorn hospitals, as well as the Medical Science Department.



The results of the lab tests released yesterday showed she had type-A (H1N1) influenza.

She had been travelling in the US and Canada with relatives since May 13. Part of the trip was a seven-day cruise to Alaska. After the cruise she developed mild symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and a slight fever.

"She showed responsibility to other people by wearing a surgical mask while flying back to Thailand," Prat said.

She was given oseltamivir to treat the flu on May 27, after which she was allowed to go home.

Passengers on her flight are under observation as a precautionary measure.

Eight people accompanied her during the overseas trip. Of the seven who have already returned to Thailand, two have developed respiratory symptoms.

The Public Health Ministry took samples from them for testing, but the primary lab-test results showed negative results.

The eight people - family members and work colleagues - are under surveillance by the ministry. They have been advised to stay at home for seven days, avoid hugging or kissing, wash their hands frequently and wear face masks.

Prat said the 50-year-old woman now had no flu, although she was still suffering from a cough.

Thailand reported its first two cases of H1N1 influenza earlier this month. Both recovered quickly.

All three confirmed H1N1 flu-virus cases in Thailand are people who became infected abroad, the ministry said.

The virus has sickened more than 13,000 people in more than 50 countries and has been linked to more than 100 deaths around the world.

Dr Paijit Warachit, deputy permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry and responsible |for overseeing H1N1 outbreak-prevention operations, said the |ministry would hold a meeting on June 4 to propose new measures |to the national committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart.

He said the ministry would adjust its strategy for preventing and controlling disease after learning that the new virus exhibits only mild symptoms in humans, much like a seasonal flu.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 cases confirmed

Fourth H1N1 case treated

By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 31/05/2009

Thailand has its fourth confirmed case of H1N1 influenza but the patient has fully recovered, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Sunday.

Mr Witthaya said the 50-year-old male patient, whose name was undisclosed, returned from the United States on Monday night, and he started to have flu symptoms the following day.

The patient went to a local hospital on Friday, and his saliva samples were examined by the Department of Medical Sciences' National Influenza Centre and Siriraj Hospital.

Both confirmed that the samples contained the H1N1 strain.

However, the patient had fully recovered.

Health officials also gave doses of Oseltamivir to five of his family members for five consecutive days.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/144748/fourth-h1n1-case-treated

[Shiloh]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009...l_30104225.php


SWINE-FLU VIRUS
Health Ministry confirms fifth case in Thailand
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on June 3, 2009

The Public Health Ministry confirmed yesterday that a fifth Thai had been infected by the Type-A(H1N1) virus, permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said.

The latest case involves an 18-year-old woman who arrived in Bangkok from the United States on May 27.

To date, apart from the five confirmed cases in Thailand, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported more than 17,410 infections in more than 62 countries, as well as 115 deaths.

The day after her arrival, the teenager developed a slight fever, cough and runny nose, and was admitted into a Bangkok hospital where she was given the anti-viral drug oseltamivir for five consecutive days, Prat said.

Tests done at the Department of Medical Science's laboratory showed that she had tested positive to the swine-flu virus. She recovered after the treatment, though six of her family members have all been advised to stay home for a week, avoid any physical contact, wash their hands frequently and wear facemasks. So far, none of them have displayed flu-like symptoms.

Most travellers tend to ignore any symptoms they might have when they enter Thailand, not realising that they might be carriers of the virus - behaviour the Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit, said would only result in more infections. He urged people returning from abroad to undergo treatment immediately if they develop any flu-like symptoms.

The Surveillance and Rapid Response Team (SRRT) will also keep a close watch on people who have come into close contact with swine-flu patients, he added.

"This would help the country prevent an outbreak," he explained.

The Public Health Ministry will also keep an eye on students returning from summer camps overseas. Dr Passakorn Akkharasewi, director of the Department of Disease Control's Bureau of Epidemiology, said the ministry was also planning to have schools closely monitor students.

If any student appears unwell or is absent for three days after returning from abroad, teachers should inform the health agency immediately and have them taken to hospital right away.

Apart from the five confirmed infections, the Public Health Ministry is also awaiting laboratory results to see if the wife of a 50-year-old man, who on Sunday was confirmed as the fourth patient, was also infected.

Preliminary test results for this woman from the Department of Medical Science and Siriraj Hospital did not match, and new results should confirm if she is infected within five days.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 5 cases confirmed

Thailand confirms ninth case of Influenza A/H1N1
www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-07 17:16:14 Print

BANGKOK, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Sunday reported a ninth case of influenza A/H1N1 infection in the country.

Witthaya Kaewparadai, Public Health Minister, said the latest patient was a 29-year-old businessman who returned from the United States on Thursday and was admitted to a hospital on Saturday morning after having felt sick around Friday midnight.

According to lab result by the Department of Medical Sciences on Saturday, the man's example tested positive for the virus, he said.

Suphan Srithamma, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health said relatives and other people who had been in close contact with the patient have been closely monitored and have not developed any symptoms. They will be quarantined for three to seven days to ensure that they were not infected.

Meanwhile, Dr Paichit Varachit, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, expressed his appreciation that the patient provide good cooperation on medical history.

On May 12, the Public Health Ministry announced Thailand's first two A/H1N1 flu cases. On Thursday the ministry confirmed that Thailand had the first human-to-human case of A/H1N1 flu patient, also the seventh case in the country.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/07/content_11503421.htm

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 10 cases confirmed

10th Thai case of type A (H1N1) flu confirmed

The Thai Public Health Ministry confirmed Monday that a 20-year-old woman has returned from the US infected with type A (H1N1) influenza - the tenth Thai to fall victim to the flu virus that has already hit 69 countries, causing 125 deaths.

The woman is undergoing hospital treatment with the antiviral oseltamivir drug and will receive it for five consecutive days, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said.

The Ministry has sent its Surveillance and Rapid Response Team (SRRT) to monitor four people who've had close contact with the woman, he said.

The Nation

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 16 cases confirmed

Health ministry confirms 3 new cases of swine flu

By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 10/06/2009 at 02:19 PM

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed three new cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, bringing the number of cases in Thailand to 16.

The 14th and 15th cases are two 20-year-old men who returned to Thailand from the US on Sunday.

The most recent case is an 11-year-old boy who has not been abroad lately.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the ministry is trying to find out how the boy caught the virus.

The boy developed a fever and started coughing on Saturday. He was later admitted to a hospital with a high fever.

Mr Witthaya was scheduled to visit Bang Lamung hospital in Pattaya to check on virus control preparations after two infected Taiwanese nationals claimed they caught the virus while in Pattaya.

On Tuesday, three cases -- two 20-year-old women and a 30-year-old man -- were found in Thailand. They contracted the virus when they were in North America.

[hornblower]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 16 cases confirmed

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/18229/latest-flu-case-raises-new-fears

Latest flu case raises new fears
Boy has no history of overseas travel
By: APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Published: 11/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Three classes at a private school in Bangkok have been suspended after it was confirmed a boy has contracted the A(H1N1) influenza.

Thirteen other students from the school have been placed under close watch after they also developed flu-like symptoms.

The 11-year-old boy is the second case of human-to-human transmission confirmed so far in Thailand.

He is one of three new cases reported yesterday, bringing the total of H1N1 flu cases reported here to 16.

The student's case has raised serious concerns. Unlike other cases, he has no record of overseas travel.

He is now in an isolation ward.

Thirteen of the boy's classmates in Prathom 6 (Grade 6) have also come down with flu symptoms.

"This case is worrying because he has not been abroad. Also, his family members didn't have any flu symptoms," said Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.

Epidemiologists are rushing to investigate how he contracted the virus.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee said health authorities would focus on the boy's schoolmates while the three classes were suspended for the rest of the week.

Fluid samples have been taken from the 13 sick students for testing. Teachers have also been asked to monitor their condition.

Health authorities, school executives and the parents' association are considering whether to shut down the school.

Two other people tested positive for H1N1 yesterday after they returned from the US on Sunday . One was allowed to go home and the other remains in isolation.

Mr Witthaya also said the Medical Sciences Department was testing about 1,000 samples collected from people in the resort city of Pattaya and nearby municipal areas to determine if there were any signs of the H1N1 flu virus spreading there.

The investigation got under way after Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre on Tuesday announced that three patients confirmed with A (H1N1) flu had contracted the virus in Thailand.

A 24-year-old Taiwanese student who came to Thailand on a one-week graduation trip with a tour group of 57 people was found to have a fever of 38.4C on arriving at Taoyuan International Airport on his return on Sunday.

Another student was also confirmed to have tested positive for the virus.

The third was a 23-year-old female student who visited Thailand during the same period. She was screened at a Taiwan airport with a high temperature.

Taiwanese and Thai epidemiologists are investigating the cases together as it is possible more members of the tour groups may have contracted the flu.

"Personally, I still doubt the three confirmed cases contracted the influenza A in Thailand," Mr Witthaya said. "However, we have a responsibility to prove whether it's true or not."

Speaking during a discussion with Pattaya City deputy mayor Verawat Kaykhay, the minister said he was worried that Bangkok's crowded nature and its various means of transport could put it at greater risk than Pattaya of becoming "ground for germ incubation".

But he tried to calm fears over the reports of Taiwanese nationals falling ill with H1N1 and the increase in infections in the country.

"Most tourists are afraid of being detained at hotels, not of the flu itself. The virus itself is not virulent and [patients] can be completely cured."

The Public Health Ministry will promote preventive measures such as the use of serving spoons, frequent hand washing and wearing of face masks when having flu symptoms, he said.

Mr Verawat urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand to write to the Taiwan Tourism Authority to explain the health situation in Thailand.

He was worried that tour groups from Taiwan might cancel their planned trips for fear of contracting H1N1.

"The tourism atmosphere in Pattaya City is already in pretty bad shape in the low season. We want the sectors involved to quickly build up confidence among tourists so they will not cancel their trips to Thailand," he said.

[Shiloh]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 46 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-S...55A1T820090611

Thailand sees jump in H1N1 cases, many in Pattaya
Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:11am EDT

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand reported a sharp jump in confirmed H1N1 cases on Thursday, with most of the new infections found in the seaside tourist town of Pattaya.

"We found 30 cases today, 21 of which were found in Pattaya," Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said in a statement.

The latest infections bring the total number of cases to 46, none of which have been fatal.

All but one case, a British man who was detected at Bangkok's international airport, are Thais.

Authorities began testing suspect cases in Pattaya, 150 km (90 miles) east of Bangkok, after three students from Taiwan tested positive for H1N1 on their return from a holiday in the resort town, the ministry said.

In Bangkok, officials closed a school on Thursday for at least six days after five students contracted the virus, the ministry said.

"Thai people should not panic because the information we have suggests this flu is not lethal if they seek medical help," Witthaya told Reuters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is poised to declare a global flu pandemic after a spike in cases in Australia, where five people have been admitted to intensive care units and 1,263 cases of the new flu have been confirmed.

More than 27,700 cases have been detected in 74 countries, including 141 deaths, according to the WHO. [ID:nT236041]

The impact of H1N1 on global travel has added to the gloom in Thailand's travel industry, which has suffered a major drop in arrivals due to the global economic crisis and political unrest.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Supanida Sakultangphaisal; Writing by Kittipong Soonprasert; Editing by Martin Petty and Jeremy Laurence)

[Shiloh]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 46 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/ne....php?id=417405

June 11, 2009 19:09 PM

21 Discotheque Staff In Pattaya Infected With H1N1

BANGKOK, June 11 (Bernama) -- Twenty-one employees of a discotheque in the entertainment city of Pattaya were infected with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, bringing the total number of reported cases in Thailand to 46.

Thai Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparada said they were found to have been infected after the authorities conducted tests following a report that two Taiwanese tourists got the infection during their visit to the city.

Among the new cases were four students, forcing the Saint Gabriel College in Bangkok to close the school for one week.

While most of the confirmed cases involved Thais who had returned from the United States, an 11-year-old who had not travelled overseas was also infected, together with his mother.

A British national who was on transit at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on his way to Cambodia was hospitalised after tests confirmed he had the H1N1 virus.

According to the World Health Organisation, 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 cases of H1N1, including 141 deaths.

-- BERNAMA

[Shiloh]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 89 cases confirmed

Source: http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=10338

43 more A(H1N1) cases reported in Thailand

BANGKOK, June 12 (TNA) - The number of A(H1N1) patients in Thailand continues to rise, with 43 new confirmed cased in the capital, Bangkok and major tourist destinations.

Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, director of the Influenza A(H1N1) Prevention Centre, announced the 43 new cases, bringing the total number in Thaialnd to 89. 37 of the flu patients were being treated in private hospitals in Bangkok, most of them having returned from abroad. One case was reported on the southern resort island of Phuket, one in the eastern seaside resort of Pattaya and one was International school student.

The confirmation of a university student as Thailand's 48th A(H1N1) patient prompted his faculty to announce a seven-day closure beginning Friday.

Earlier on Friday, another student from St. Gabriel's College in Bangkok contracted the A(H1N1) virus. The tutoring school the student attended over the weekend would also be closed to curb the spread of the flu.

Meanwhile, at a disease control checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province, a New Zealand tour guide was put under quarantine along with nine other people, after he was detected with a high fever. He was the first suspected A(H1N1) case in the eastern province which borders Cambodia.

The Public Health Ministry will continue stepping up measures in areas where spread of the virus has been reported. It hasalso asked the public not to panic but to adopt sanitary habits such as frequent hand washing and use of serving spoons.

The ministry assured there was enough antiviral drugs, while also ordering two million doses of A(H1N1) vaccine to be produced over the next four months and sent to Thailand in March 2010.

Thailand now has 105 suspected A(H1N1) cases under medical surveillance. (TNA)

General News : Last Update : 21:23:16 12 June 2009 (GMT+7:00)

[Shiloh]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 106 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009...l_30105093.php

TYPE-A (H1N1) INFLUENZA
Thai Swine-flu cases rise to 106
By THE NATION ON SUNDAY
Published on June 14, 2009

Seventeen pupils of a kindergarten in Pathum Thani province were yesterday confirmed to have the Type-A (H1N1) influenza, thus bringing Thailand's confirmed H1N1-virus patients to 106, a five-fold leap from Wednesday's 16.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said that 17 of 50 kindergarten students whose virus samples were collected for testing on Friday had tested positive for H1N1.

"Altogether 106 swine-flu cases were confirmed today," Wittaya said, adding that academics said Thailand had the flu outbreak in some areas but they remained within a limited circle.

Nearly 100 more kindergarteners, many with fever, went for check-ups at Pathum Thani Hospital yesterday morning, while provincial governor Preecha Butsri had officials clean all schools in Muang district in a bid to stop the disease from spreading.

Wittaya said the ministry and medical experts had agreed to bring treatment in line with the latest updates, especially in the matter of anti-viral medication, which would now be given only to those in need to prevent drug resistance. This will be notified to all doctors nationwide on Tuesday, he said. The ministry also suggested the general public take care not to fall ill and that businesses and schools send sick employees and students home rather than closing their premises. For details, go to www.moph.go.th.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Paijit Warachit said that besides the 17 new confirmed cases, lab confirmations were pending on a Mahidol Univ-ersity student and patients in Ratchaburi and Roi Et.

Citing the latest WHO report that there have been 29,669 cases in 74 countries and 145 deaths, he said that Thailand had 106 cases and most of those affected had recovered.

Dr Tawee Chotepita-yasunon, who chairs the ministry's influenza academic team, said the Thai situation was at level B, an outbreak in a limited circle with only 10-15 patients to a group, but that it was expected that the situation would be upgraded in one month to level C, extensive outbreaks as seen in the US, the UK and Japan.

The public must be told the virus is not dangerous and only 10 per cent of people exposed to it fall ill and 0.01 per cent die, mostly those with previous medical problems, he said.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhum-bhand Paribatra yesterday said the city's 435 schools would be cleaned yesterday and today while teachers at kindergarten and primary levels were instructed to watch their pupils carefully as they were of the age most at risk.

He said there was no need to close all schools.

Urging city residents not to panic about this curable disease, he said a meeting of representatives of schools, tutorial academies, hospitals and shopping malls would be held tomorrow at 1pm at the JJ Mall to achieve a better understanding of the new flu and how to prevent an outbreak.

Meanwhile, the crew of any Thai Airways International flight will be grounded for seven days for monitoring if a passenger tests positive, a senior THAI official said yesterday.

Surapol Isarakura na Ayutthaya, head of crisis management at THAI, said this would ensure the crew did not pass on the virus. Flight crew of flights returning from risk countries will also be required to undergo check-ups at the Bamrasnaradu Infectious Disease Institute, he said.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 150 cases confirmed

June 14, 2009

H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC

Thailand's flu cases triple

BANGKOK - THAILAND'S swine flu cases tripled over the last three days to 150, with more expected as laboratory test results continue to arrive, a health official said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the public not to panic, but warned that 'it's not an easy fix' with tens of thousands of passengers arriving daily at airports from abroad.


'Definitely it will affect tourism, but I still think it's better to be transparent,' he said on his weekly television programme on Sunday. 'Trying to conceal what's happening will only makes things worse.'

The number of cases in Thailand jumped from 47 on Friday to 106 on Saturday.

'We have found 150 confirmed H1N1 cases as of today,' Dr Prat Boonyavongvirot, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said Sunday.

'They are not new cases, but we just got laboratory confirmation from patients' samples we took earlier,' he said. 'More lab test results are coming, so we expect the number to continue to rise in the next few days.'

Most of the patients were living in the capital, Bangkok, and had recently returned from trips abroad, Dr Boonyavongvirot said. Schools reported the most concentrated cases.

There have been no reported deaths from the disease in Thailand, which the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic on Thursday.

The WHO says 74 countries have reported nearly 30,000 cases of swine flu, including 145 deaths.

The health ministry said Thailand has 420,000 courses of anti-viral medicine on hand and can produce another 100,000 within one month. -- AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_390289.html

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 201 cases confirmed

Thailand's H1N1 cases hit 201, likely to spread nationwide


Posted : Mon, 15 Jun 2009

Bangkok - Thai health officials acknowledged Monday that the number of H1N1 cases had reached 201, and the virus was likely to spread nationwide.

From only 16 reported H1N1 cases on June 10, the number had jumped to 201 over the weekend, Health Ministry spokesman Suphan Srikamma told reporters.

While the majority of the 201 cases were limited to Bangkok, people suffering from swine flu have also been detected in popular tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Songkhla and Trang.

Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai on Monday warned that the new influenza virus could spread nationwide by next month.

While warning health officials to be on the alert, he urged the public not to panic since the disease is curable.

There has been no recorded H1N1 fatality to date in Thailand.
About a dozen schools and colleges have been closed in Bangkok after students fell sick.

Chairman of the ministry's influenza academic team Doctor Tawee Chotepita-yasunon said Thailand's status of the H1N1 pandemic was at level B, or an outbreak limited to groups of 10-15 patients.

But it was expected the situation would be upgraded next month to level C, with a more extensive outbreak.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/273195,thailands-h1n1-cases-hit-201-likely-to-spread-nationwide.html

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Thailand - A / H1N1 - 310 cases confirmed

Thailand confirms 109 new (A) H1N1 cases

BANGKOK, June 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday confirmed 109 new Influenza A (H1N1) diagnoses, raising the country?s total number of cases to 310.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Manit Nopamornbodhi urged the public not to over-react to the rising number of new infections. He said the number of H1N1 cases is still much less than that of normal flu patients, estimated at about 17,400 cases in 2008.

?The Public Health Ministry has discussed with related-agencies laying out preventive measures and treatment. Not all H1N1 patients need special medication, but another level of treatment will be provided to risk-group patients,? the minister said.

The at-risk group patients are the elderly, children at a very young age and patients with certain congenital diseases.

Mr. Manit added that the ministry will distribute one million handbooks with instructions for the public to protect themselves from the new virus to Thai people across the nation in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Dr. Prat Boonyawongviroj, Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said that the Influenza Type A (H1N1) has lowest rate of fatality at 0.5 per cent, compared to 60 per cent death rate of the bird flu, and 80 per cent of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Dr. Prat said that, as with seasonal common flu, H1N1 patients can heal themselves with sufficient rest and water consumption, but that anti-viral drugs will be given to those who suffer chronic or congenital diseases.

He added that the number of H1N1 patients in Thailand will reach the highest level in July which is the rainy season. (TNA)


General News : Last Update : 12:24:11 16 June 2009

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=10374