Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has warned that the incidence of influenza is spreading rapidly, with four provinces in the northeast region the hardest hit.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said there has been a big jump in infections in February, calling on people showing symptoms that could be flu to stay home, to prevent spreading the virus.
Health officials were speeding up the supply of vaccine to sensitive groups, particularly children and senior citizens.
According to the Thai health ministry, 7,819 cases of influenza were reported in the country this year as of January 25.
However, by February 15, total infections this year had leapt to 99,057, with nine fatalities. The ministry also said that H1N1 is the main virus strain active in Thailand at present.
Most cases were found at schools, and children aged 5-9 years were the most vulnerable group, according to the ministry.
Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Buri Ram and Chaiyaphum were the worst affected, with about 6,938 patients.
Previously, Yong Poovorawan, a virologist at the Chulalongkorn University faculty of medicine, posted an advisory on Facebook on February 9 saying that travellers to countries in the northern hemisphere should get a flu shot at least two weeks before going abroad.
But he has also called for calm, saying that the flu is seasonal and Thailand does not have the same variant that is hitting Japan.
The situation in Japan caught public attention in Thailand when famous Taiwanese actress Barbie Big S Hsu died after catching the flu early this month while in Japan./.
