Laos - Cases - 56

[Gert van der Hoek]

Laos confirms first three cases of new flu

25 Jun 2009

Source: Reuters

BANGKOK, June 25 (Reuters) - Laos and the World Health Organization confirmed on Thursday the communist country's first three cases of the H1N1 flu virus, all of them foreigners.

A 9-year-old American boy and an Australian man were recovering after being infected with the virus also known as swine flu, government spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing said.

Another foreigner, whose nationality was not known, had also contracted the virus and was being treated in hospital in the capital Vientiane, he said.
"The Australian is living in Laos but has fully recovered," he said by telephone. "The other two cases were detected by a scanner when they entered the country at the airport."

The WHO office in Laos confirmed the cases and said all three were recovering.

Neighbouring Cambodia reported its first case on Wednesday, a 16-year-old American girl. More than 1,000 people have been infected in Thailand, although no deaths have been reported.

The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, has spread around the globe and the WHO has declared an influenza pandemic and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus.

There have been more than 56,000 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus and at least 249 people have died.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK334203.htm

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Laos - Confirmed cases of new flu - 7

Laos confirms 4 more A/H1N1 flu cases

www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-06

HANOI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Laos confirmed four more influenza A/H1N1 cases, bringing the country's tally to seven, Lao newspaper the Vientiane Times reported Monday.

Among the newly confirmed cases, one patient is a student coming back from New Zealand. He was tested positive to the A/H1N1virus after showing high body temperature, said the newspaper.

The three others are school boys in Laos' capital of Vientiane. They went to Thailand for a sport event with a group of other seven children. Two of them were tested positive with the A/H1N1 virus in Thailand on June 30 and treated with the influenza drug Tamiflu before returning to Laos. The third was found positive with the virus in Laos on Friday.

Bounlay Phommasack, Head of Lao National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office said the health of the three boys was improving.

All of the 10 children going to Thailand for the sport event have been told to stay at home while doctors monitor their health.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/06/content_11662261.htm

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: Laos - Cases - 156 - Deaths - 1

Laos reports first A/H1N1 flu death

2009-07-23 19:00:44

HANOI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A 31-year-old man has died of A/H1N1flu, the first death from the epidemic reported in Laos, the Vientiane Times reported Thursday.

The man, who lived in Lao province of Borikhamxay, had a history of respiratory problems, obesity and diabetes, said the newspaper. The man, who was not identified, was also a heavy smoker and drinker.

Lifestyle-related factors could lower the man's immunity to the A/H1N1 virus, said Bounlay Phommasack, head of Lao National Emerging Infection Disease Coordination Office.

According to his family, the man had never been abroad before. He showed flu-like symptoms on July 9 and was transferred from a provincial hospital to Lao capital city of Vientiane on July 17. The man died later that day.

Other family members of the man were tested negative to the A/H1N1 virus, said the newspaper.

So far, Laos has reported 56 influenza A/H1N1 cases.

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: Laos - Cases - 56

PM calls for stronger measures against A(H1N1) virus

In the week from July 27 to August 2, 43 people contracted A(H1N1) influenza in Laos , bringing the country's total number of cases to 156.

Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh presents Tamiflu and liquid soap, for use in treating the H1N1 virus, to staff at Mittaphab Hospital .

Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh yesterday urged health officials to increase measures to rapidly respond to the virus to keep the situation under control.

Speaking during a visit to Mittaphab Hospital , Mr Bouasone said the lives and health of people are of primary importance and everyone should be safe from the virus, thus stronger measures are needed.

Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane was selected as the main hospital in Laos to treat patients who have the A(H1N1) influenza virus.

Public health education campaigns need to be reviewed while searching for additional measures to deal with the virus.

?I want you (health officials) to study whether or not health education is broad enough and target specific groups, especially at schools. If our measures are not adequate, what more should done?? he said

?The more people are infected with the virus, the higher the possibility of a widespread outbreak occurring is.?

Mr Bouasone said it was important that people travelling abroad understood the situation and know how to protect themselves.

He urged health officials to study lessons from countries such as Japan and try to apply them in-line with the situation in Laos .

The government has raised the alert level from 4 to 5, after human-to-human transmission cases were reported in Vientiane and other provinces.

Mr Bouasone told health officials to write a detailed plan of measures to be taken in the lead-up to the SEA Games later this year and submit it to the government.

The report must boost the confidence of delegations visiting the country for the event in December.

Mr Bouasone proposed the establishment of A(H1N1)-free villages in Laos , with the aim of encouraging villagers to contribute to prevention efforts and ensure their community is free of the virus.

Cases of the virus have been recorded in 14 districts of eight provinces. Fortunately, only one fatality has occurred, a person from Borikhamxay provi nce. The virus could badly affect the country's investment and tourism sectors, as well as the number of foreign delegations visiting Laos .

?We all have to work in cooperation to respond to the outbreak of the virus and to ensure the continuous growth of our economy,? said Mr Bouasone. The government has set a target for 7.5 percent economic growth in the 2008-09 fiscal year.

?We may not achieve the goal if the virus affects key sectors of the economy.?

The H1N1 virus has spread very fast throughout the world. It took only six weeks to spread worldwide, while the Spanish flu took about six months to spread worldwide.

The fast spread of the virus was due to ease of access to global transportation for many people.

According to the World Health Organisation, as of July 27, 134,503 cases have been recorded worldwide, with 816 deaths.

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update August 5 , 2009)