Swine-flu prevention raised to 'maximum'

Thailand yesterday raised its swine-flu preventive measures to "maximum", with all visitors entering the country subjected to thermal scanners and even dignitaries not exempt.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee said the Public Health Ministry had stepped up surveillance after the first cases of the virus were confirmed in Hong Kong and South Korea on Friday.

He said the six thermal scanners at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport would check every passenger coming through the regional travel hub round the clock.

"After the outbreak [in Asia], we think it's better to do more rather than less. From now on everyone who enters Thailand, no matter how senior they are, will have to pass through a scanner," Manit said, "even a minister or the prime minister himself."

The scanners were turned on 181,713 arriving passengers in the past five days, and 31 were found with high body temperature, but most were later cleared.

Bureau of Epidemiology chief Dr Pasakorn Akarasewi reported that two Thai women in their 40s remained under close surveillance although the initial flu-test results were negative.

Deputy permanent secretary for public health Paijit Warachit said that tomorrow one more ambulance would be sent to the airport so that two would be available.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has been instructed to buy ingredients for oseltamivir to produce two million tablets of the influenza drug. Four million masks are ready for public distribution, and all hospitals nationwide are to set up swine-flu screening centres as was done for bird flu, Paijit added.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Prat Boonyawongwirot said all passengers from countries at risk would be asked to fill in a questionnaire. All who pass the scanners will get a "health-awarenss card" to watch for flu-like symptoms throughout their first fortnight in Thailand. The ministry has printed one million cards.

Manit said Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya had expressed concern about swine flu and advised the ministry to act with unusual rigour.

Deputy PM Sanan Kachornpra-sart, who chairs a national committee on the "2009 flu", had a meeting at 10.30am yesterday with senior officials including Manit at the Public Health Ministry's swine-flu control centre.

Urging intensive and continuous control, Sanan called for appropriate measures for 14 Thais who are to fly back from Mexico today.

Those who pass thermal scanning and physical examination will be followed by a medical team for a week, he said, and those with high body temperature will be put under close surveillance in hospital.

Sanan said he would contact the Mexican Embassy to arrange for the transportation to Mexico of 20,000-30,000 oseltamivir tablets, which would be initially sufficient for 19,000 patients. He said he would ask the Cabinet when it met on Tuesday to purchase 10 infrared thermo-scanners, which cost Bt1.5 million each, to be installed at borders.

Meanwhile, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is to chair a meeting of health ministers from the 10-member Asean plus Japan, China and South Korea on swine flu on Friday in Bangkok, said the government was closely watching the situation and taking measures to prevent an outbreak.

In related news, Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong said there was no plan to evacuate Thai workers in countries where swine flu had been found. The ministry has put on hold travel abroad by Thai workers until the disease has been contained, he added.