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Annual influenza epidemic hits Thailand: What you need to know
23 Nov 2025
The annual influenza epidemic is lingering in Thailand even as monsoon rains give way to the cool season.
The number of flu cases recorded nationwide so far this year has accelerated past 940,000, with around 100 people dying of the disease.
The youngest victim was a 12-month-old baby while the oldest was 95.
“Fatality statistics show the elderly are the most vulnerable,” deputy government spokesperson Airin Phanrit said earlier this week.
A total of 208,443 influenza cases were recorded in October alone, according to Disease Control Department spokesperson Dr Jurai Wongsawat.
“Though monthly data shows the infection rate began to fall in November, cluster outbreaks are still on the rise, especially in places like prisons, schools and training centres,” she said, adding that flu is most common among children aged between five and nine.
Infections surge during rains
Asst Prof Dr Ekasit Kowitdamrong of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine explained that though the influenza virus is present year-round in Thailand, the rainy season brings a surge in infections.
By the time the monsoon rains arrived on May 15, the virus had already infected 330,000 people since the start of the year – but that figure surged in the wet and humid weather.
“The number of patients testing positive for the virus has been high for several months now,” Ekasit said.
Of the three main influenza virus types, A/H3N2 accounted for most cases (76%), followed by A/H1N1 and Type B.
Although the dry, cool season officially began on October 23, lingering rain means the number of flu cases has hardly slowed down.
-snip-
Free vaccines available
continued: https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/a...-to-know/59631
Annual influenza epidemic hits Thailand: What you need to know
23 Nov 2025
The annual influenza epidemic is lingering in Thailand even as monsoon rains give way to the cool season.
The number of flu cases recorded nationwide so far this year has accelerated past 940,000, with around 100 people dying of the disease.
The youngest victim was a 12-month-old baby while the oldest was 95.
“Fatality statistics show the elderly are the most vulnerable,” deputy government spokesperson Airin Phanrit said earlier this week.
A total of 208,443 influenza cases were recorded in October alone, according to Disease Control Department spokesperson Dr Jurai Wongsawat.
“Though monthly data shows the infection rate began to fall in November, cluster outbreaks are still on the rise, especially in places like prisons, schools and training centres,” she said, adding that flu is most common among children aged between five and nine.
Infections surge during rains
Asst Prof Dr Ekasit Kowitdamrong of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine explained that though the influenza virus is present year-round in Thailand, the rainy season brings a surge in infections.
By the time the monsoon rains arrived on May 15, the virus had already infected 330,000 people since the start of the year – but that figure surged in the wet and humid weather.
“The number of patients testing positive for the virus has been high for several months now,” Ekasit said.
Of the three main influenza virus types, A/H3N2 accounted for most cases (76%), followed by A/H1N1 and Type B.
Although the dry, cool season officially began on October 23, lingering rain means the number of flu cases has hardly slowed down.
-snip-
Free vaccines available
continued: https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/a...-to-know/59631
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