Re: Thailand 7/27 - 7/29
Copying Nancy's post, I highlighted the number of times they used the word "suspected". Why are they still so suspicious, if there was one death? And they keep reassuring everyone it's most likely the normal flu.
112 admitted for bird flu tests in North
Saturday, July 29, 2006
PHICHIT - Thai public health authorities have admitted that over one hundred patients from 14 provinces suspected of having contracted avian influenza and are being monitored and tested for bird flu, but no new cases have been reported following a flurry of new reports during the past week.
No new cases of avian influenza have been confirmed, a senior Public Health Ministry official said Saturday.
Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot said a total of 112 patients from 14 provinces, including two from Bangkok, had been admitted for further laboratory tests after earlier tests showed that most suffered from human influenza, but not avian influenza.
Dr. Prat said health officers were also closely monitoring about three dozen medical personnel and three other persons who looked after a 17-year-old youth who died of confirmed avian influenza in the northern province of Phichit last Monday.
Although no further cases of bird flu have been confirmed, public health authorities met Saturday in both Phichit and the neighbouring Phitsanulok Province to assess the situation and work out stricter bird flu control measures. So far no H5N1 virus has been found.
Nonetheless, physicians, nurses and public health officials were told to be more alert for people suspected to have contracted the disease.
Hospitals across Thailand had admitted more patients suspected of contracting avian influenza, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat indicated Friday, most with cough and standard influenza symptoms.
He said he would establish a special medical team to administer the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to suspected cases. (TNA)
Suspect: 1. To regard as probable; surmise. 2. To distrust or doubt; suspected their motives. 3. To think guilty without proof; one who is suspected, esp. of having committed a crime.