04.07.09 Man, aged 30, becomes sixth H1N1 fatality
Source: Bangkok Post
People warned to take extra care over holiday
A 30-year-old man has been confirmed as Thailand's sixth A (H1N1) influenza fatality.
The man developed flu symptoms on June 26 and sought medical
treatment at a private hospital in Bangna district three days later
with severe pneumonia. He died on Wednesday, said Public Health
Ministry permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongwirote.
The hospital did not report the infection to the ministry until
after he died. A post-mortem conducted on Thursday found the man had A
(H1N1) influenza.
The man weighed 123kg, which put him in the high-risk group. Experts
say obesity is one of the risk factors contributing to deaths among
type A (H1N1) patients.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai yesterday warned people
to take extra care during the five-day holiday starting today.
The flu could spread easily, so people should avoid crowded places if possible, he said.
"Although the H1N1 strain of virus is not virulent, it moves around
as quickly as a storm," said Prasert Thongcharoen, president of the
Influenza Foundation Thailand.
Most cases of infection and death were reported in crowded urban
areas such as Bangkok and Chon Buri, where local flu transmission has
been confirmed.
A short-term epidemiological study on the new strain of virus also
showed that students and young adults were the most vulnerable group.
Dr Prasert says the mortality rate is still low and there is no sign of virus mutation so far.
He recommended the Public Health Ministry beef up influenza
surveillance and prevention at crowded places such as schools, military
and prisons.
He also suggested the government put on hold any plans to buy a
thermal scanning machine to screen inbound passengers because the
device had missed some people with influenza A (H1N1).
The rising number of schoolchildren contracting the virus yesterday
prompted several schools upcountry to close, with parents flocking to
pick up their children.
In Saraburi province, Saraburi Witthayakhom school has suspended
classes until July 9 after two students tested positive for H1N1 and
three students developed flu-like symptoms.
The two students with flu picked it up after returning from tuition
schools in Bangkok, while the three students with flu-like symptoms
fell ill after they went to a weekend concert by the Korean boy band
Dong Bang Shin Ki, at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani.
In Kanchanaburi, parents were seen arriving at Chalermprakiart
Somdej Phra Srinakharin school yesterday morning to pick up their
children after almost 200 students caught flu and three students fell
seriously ill.
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