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Thailand. H1N1 infection far from over, Witthaya warns - Nationmultimedia.com
H1N1 infection far from over, Witthaya warns
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation.
Published on September 10, 2009
The government remains vigilant in its monitoring and surveillance of the of type A (H1N1) flu pandemic which has killed 12 more people during the past week, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
Spread of the new flu virus has slowed during the past month and people are feeling the disease outbreak crisis has passed - but this is a reverse of the real situation," he said.
During the past month, the Public Health Ministry has detected patients with influenzalike illness every day; and people have died from the new influenza virus every week.
The ministry yesterday reported 12 more people had succumbed to the new flu virus, bringing the total deaths to 142.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has signalled, especially to countries in the northern hemisphere, to prepare for a second wave of the pandemic.
Countries with tropical climates, where the flu virus arrived later than elsewhere, need to prepare for an increasing number of cases. Crowds from Europe and United States might pour into Thailand to escape the second wave of influenza due in the near future,it warned.
The Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit said the ministry would tighten surveillance measures to boost tourist confidence, such as asking tour companies to follow up on clients with flulike symptoms.
"We will discuss with tour companies distribution of the antiviral drug oseltamivir to tourists, free of charge," he said.
Bureau of Epidemiology's director, Dr Passakorn Akarasewee said the ministry will distribute to guides a manual on how to practice personal hygiene against influenza infection.
The ministry will inform embassies on any of their nationals developing flulike symptoms.
Witthaya said the country is now entering the period when bird flu virus is likely to occur -during the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter.
He has ordered provincial public health officers to watch for people with influenzalike symptoms, bird flulike symptoms, and pneumonia.
In a bid to handle a second pandemic wave, the ministry also will buy 200 respirators for patients critically ill after flu infection.
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<cite cite="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/10/national/national_30111885.php">H1N1 infection far from over, Witthaya warns - Nationmultimedia.com</cite>
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation.
Published on September 10, 2009
The government remains vigilant in its monitoring and surveillance of the of type A (H1N1) flu pandemic which has killed 12 more people during the past week, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
Spread of the new flu virus has slowed during the past month and people are feeling the disease outbreak crisis has passed - but this is a reverse of the real situation," he said.
During the past month, the Public Health Ministry has detected patients with influenzalike illness every day; and people have died from the new influenza virus every week.
The ministry yesterday reported 12 more people had succumbed to the new flu virus, bringing the total deaths to 142.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has signalled, especially to countries in the northern hemisphere, to prepare for a second wave of the pandemic.
Countries with tropical climates, where the flu virus arrived later than elsewhere, need to prepare for an increasing number of cases. Crowds from Europe and United States might pour into Thailand to escape the second wave of influenza due in the near future,it warned.
The Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit said the ministry would tighten surveillance measures to boost tourist confidence, such as asking tour companies to follow up on clients with flulike symptoms.
"We will discuss with tour companies distribution of the antiviral drug oseltamivir to tourists, free of charge," he said.
Bureau of Epidemiology's director, Dr Passakorn Akarasewee said the ministry will distribute to guides a manual on how to practice personal hygiene against influenza infection.
The ministry will inform embassies on any of their nationals developing flulike symptoms.
Witthaya said the country is now entering the period when bird flu virus is likely to occur -during the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter.
He has ordered provincial public health officers to watch for people with influenzalike symptoms, bird flulike symptoms, and pneumonia.
In a bid to handle a second pandemic wave, the ministry also will buy 200 respirators for patients critically ill after flu infection.
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