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Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/21674/ministry-warns-of-mass-flu-cases-during-seasonal-peak
Ministry warns of mass flu cases during seasonal peak
Published: 8/08/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The Public Health Ministry has warned the public to brace for massive infections of type-A (H1N1) during the peak of the seasonal flu period this month.
The number of influenza patients would jump sharply this month and next month when people are affected by both seasonal flu and the new A (H1N1) influenza virus, minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
The Epidemiology Bureau reported an unprecedentedly high number of flu patients in June and July. The figure for people contracting influenza was 10 times higher than last year, Mr Witthaya said.
Thailand generally records around 10,000 flu patients a month during the rainy and cold seasons, which is the annual seasonal flu period.
''The type-A influenza pandemic will stay with us at least until next February, so the public should not lower their guard against the flu,'' Mr Witthaya said during a meeting on influenza pandemic control at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
The foundation has set up a committee, chaired by former public health minister Mongkol na Songkhla, to assist the government's handling of the pandemic.
Dr Mongkol said strong cooperation from all sectors, particularly state agen cies dealing with public services, was needed to stop the spread of the A (H1N1) flu virus.
Agencies that should pay special attention to flu control included education institutions, mass transit operators, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Labour Ministry, and local administration organisations.
The Public Health Ministry yesterday instructed all local communities to conduct rehearsals of flu preparedness plans as the ministry's records show A (H1N1) has been spreading from big cities to rural communities and villages.
Influenza preparedness drills would help limit the number of infections and fatalities when a locality is struck by an outbreak, the ministry says.
Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) managing director Witit Artavatkun yesterday said experts from the World Health Organisation would inspect the GPO's vaccine production progress on Monday.
If its procedure passes the WHO's evaluation, the team could go ahead with the production of a vaccine prototype for human trials.
In the plan, the vaccine prototype would be given to the first group of 24 volunteers on Sept 6, he said.
Ministry warns of mass flu cases during seasonal peak
Published: 8/08/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The Public Health Ministry has warned the public to brace for massive infections of type-A (H1N1) during the peak of the seasonal flu period this month.
The number of influenza patients would jump sharply this month and next month when people are affected by both seasonal flu and the new A (H1N1) influenza virus, minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
The Epidemiology Bureau reported an unprecedentedly high number of flu patients in June and July. The figure for people contracting influenza was 10 times higher than last year, Mr Witthaya said.
Thailand generally records around 10,000 flu patients a month during the rainy and cold seasons, which is the annual seasonal flu period.
''The type-A influenza pandemic will stay with us at least until next February, so the public should not lower their guard against the flu,'' Mr Witthaya said during a meeting on influenza pandemic control at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
The foundation has set up a committee, chaired by former public health minister Mongkol na Songkhla, to assist the government's handling of the pandemic.
Dr Mongkol said strong cooperation from all sectors, particularly state agen cies dealing with public services, was needed to stop the spread of the A (H1N1) flu virus.
Agencies that should pay special attention to flu control included education institutions, mass transit operators, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Labour Ministry, and local administration organisations.
The Public Health Ministry yesterday instructed all local communities to conduct rehearsals of flu preparedness plans as the ministry's records show A (H1N1) has been spreading from big cities to rural communities and villages.
Influenza preparedness drills would help limit the number of infections and fatalities when a locality is struck by an outbreak, the ministry says.
Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) managing director Witit Artavatkun yesterday said experts from the World Health Organisation would inspect the GPO's vaccine production progress on Monday.
If its procedure passes the WHO's evaluation, the team could go ahead with the production of a vaccine prototype for human trials.
In the plan, the vaccine prototype would be given to the first group of 24 volunteers on Sept 6, he said.