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Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/18291/pattaya-ups-flu-alert-level
Pattaya ups flu alert level
Two Bangkok schools are closed for a week
By: APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL, SUPOJ WANCHAROEN AND AP
Published: 12/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Health authorities have raised the H1N1 flu alert level in Pattaya after reports surfaced of human-to-human transmission.
Students at St Gabriel?s College wear face masks as they show up for class yesterday. The school has decided to suspend classes until next Thursday after four more students were found to have contracted the H1N1 flu virus. THITI WANNAMONTHA
The decision came yesterday after two schools in Bangkok were ordered to close for a week to prevent the spread of the new strain of flu.
As Thailand battles the type-A (H1N1) flu, the World Health Organisation yesterday told member nations it was declaring a H1N1 pandemic - the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The move came as the number of infections climbed quickly in the US, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.
In a statement sent to member countries, the WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 - its highest alert - after an emergency meeting with its experts.
The WHO move to announce a pandemic will prompt drugmakers to speed up production of an H1N1 flu vaccine, and governments to devote more money to containing the virus.
As of yesterday the number of infections in Thailand stood at 46, up from 16 cases on Wednesday.
In Pattaya alone, 21 people were confirmed to have tested positive for H1N1.
Disease Control Department director-general Somchai Chakrabhandu said 17 patients were staff at an entertainment place and the other four were residents of Chon Buri.
The remainder comprised the mother of an 11-year-old student at St Gabriel's College in Bangkok, four of his classmates at the school, three Thais and one Briton transiting to Cambodia. It was not known which country he had arrived from.
Worldwide, 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 A(H1N1) infection cases to the WHO, including 141 deaths.
What is a pandemic? Flu pandemics occur when a strain of the flu virus mutates into a new form that can spread from human to human and to which people have no natural immunity. Because there is no widespread immunity to the new strain of H1N1, its effects are worse than the normal flu. It is also difficult to predict which age groups will be worst hit by a pandemic strain.
The magnitude of the problem in Pattaya prompted the department to raise the alert level one notch.
Health authorities began testing suspected cases in Pattaya after Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre announced that three Taiwanese nationals were diagnosed as having contracted the virus when they returned home from a trip to Pattaya.
"The influenza A (H1N1) situation in Pattaya should be regarded as Level C, where a local human-to-human transmission outbreak has been reported at the community level," Dr Somchai told the Bangkok Post.
Dr Somchai said the nightspot where the Taiwanese and local cases were confirmed must close for five days.
Local authorities in Pattaya are stepping up measures to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the town is clear of H1N1 in a month.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome said more than 80 health volunteers have been dispatched to monitor closely the health of the immediate families of the infected patients.
A surveillance centre has been set up in Bang Lamung Hospital and 420,000 anti-viral tablets were distributed to medical facilities.
Unlike Pattaya, the influenza situation in Bangkok is being maintained at Level B as the flu's transmission is limited to the school, according to Dr Somchai.
St Gabriel's College announced yesterday the entire school would be closed from today until Thursday .
"Student safety is our priority and we're ready to give cooperation to every sector involved to contain the virus as quickly as possible," said Somchai Treedara, chairman of the St Gabriel's Parents and Teachers Association.
However, he said the 11-year-old boy did not contract the virus at the school. Following an investigation, it was found that he had been to a private tutoring school before coming to his class.
A parent said yesterday the best way to contain the virus was to keep the public informed of the situation and of the preventive measures.
"The government and the school must not withhold information about infections. As long as the public is properly informed they will not panic," said the parent, who requested anonymity.
Besides St Gabriel's, neighbouring Saint Francis Xavier Convent School also announced it would close for a week starting today.
Meanwhile, a kindergarten in Pathum Thani was closed after 30 students developed high fever and one of them was admitted to hospital, according to Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee.
Mr Manit tried to allay public fears about the flu, saying the prevalence of the virus was low and those infected could be completely cured.
Pattaya ups flu alert level
Two Bangkok schools are closed for a week
By: APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL, SUPOJ WANCHAROEN AND AP
Published: 12/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Health authorities have raised the H1N1 flu alert level in Pattaya after reports surfaced of human-to-human transmission.
Students at St Gabriel?s College wear face masks as they show up for class yesterday. The school has decided to suspend classes until next Thursday after four more students were found to have contracted the H1N1 flu virus. THITI WANNAMONTHA
The decision came yesterday after two schools in Bangkok were ordered to close for a week to prevent the spread of the new strain of flu.
As Thailand battles the type-A (H1N1) flu, the World Health Organisation yesterday told member nations it was declaring a H1N1 pandemic - the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The move came as the number of infections climbed quickly in the US, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.
In a statement sent to member countries, the WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 - its highest alert - after an emergency meeting with its experts.
The WHO move to announce a pandemic will prompt drugmakers to speed up production of an H1N1 flu vaccine, and governments to devote more money to containing the virus.
As of yesterday the number of infections in Thailand stood at 46, up from 16 cases on Wednesday.
In Pattaya alone, 21 people were confirmed to have tested positive for H1N1.
Disease Control Department director-general Somchai Chakrabhandu said 17 patients were staff at an entertainment place and the other four were residents of Chon Buri.
The remainder comprised the mother of an 11-year-old student at St Gabriel's College in Bangkok, four of his classmates at the school, three Thais and one Briton transiting to Cambodia. It was not known which country he had arrived from.
Worldwide, 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 A(H1N1) infection cases to the WHO, including 141 deaths.
What is a pandemic? Flu pandemics occur when a strain of the flu virus mutates into a new form that can spread from human to human and to which people have no natural immunity. Because there is no widespread immunity to the new strain of H1N1, its effects are worse than the normal flu. It is also difficult to predict which age groups will be worst hit by a pandemic strain.
The magnitude of the problem in Pattaya prompted the department to raise the alert level one notch.
Health authorities began testing suspected cases in Pattaya after Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre announced that three Taiwanese nationals were diagnosed as having contracted the virus when they returned home from a trip to Pattaya.
"The influenza A (H1N1) situation in Pattaya should be regarded as Level C, where a local human-to-human transmission outbreak has been reported at the community level," Dr Somchai told the Bangkok Post.
Dr Somchai said the nightspot where the Taiwanese and local cases were confirmed must close for five days.
Local authorities in Pattaya are stepping up measures to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the town is clear of H1N1 in a month.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome said more than 80 health volunteers have been dispatched to monitor closely the health of the immediate families of the infected patients.
A surveillance centre has been set up in Bang Lamung Hospital and 420,000 anti-viral tablets were distributed to medical facilities.
Unlike Pattaya, the influenza situation in Bangkok is being maintained at Level B as the flu's transmission is limited to the school, according to Dr Somchai.
St Gabriel's College announced yesterday the entire school would be closed from today until Thursday .
"Student safety is our priority and we're ready to give cooperation to every sector involved to contain the virus as quickly as possible," said Somchai Treedara, chairman of the St Gabriel's Parents and Teachers Association.
However, he said the 11-year-old boy did not contract the virus at the school. Following an investigation, it was found that he had been to a private tutoring school before coming to his class.
A parent said yesterday the best way to contain the virus was to keep the public informed of the situation and of the preventive measures.
"The government and the school must not withhold information about infections. As long as the public is properly informed they will not panic," said the parent, who requested anonymity.
Besides St Gabriel's, neighbouring Saint Francis Xavier Convent School also announced it would close for a week starting today.
Meanwhile, a kindergarten in Pathum Thani was closed after 30 students developed high fever and one of them was admitted to hospital, according to Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee.
Mr Manit tried to allay public fears about the flu, saying the prevalence of the virus was low and those infected could be completely cured.