Thai schoolgirl fearful after outbreak in Mexico

"My daughter was worried about the disease because the fatal virus already killed up to eight people in a town she had been living in," said Jatuporn, how preferred not to reveal his family name publicly.

His daughter had stayed in Tuxla under a scholarship project. He said she began wearing a face mask right after she heard about the swine flu but strongly wished to return to Thailand.

"She had sore throat and needed to see a doctor shortly before she took a flight back to Bangkok," Jatuporn said.

The girl, and 13 other Thais, returned safely to Thailand on Sunday night.

Any heavy heart was also gone because lab tests by Thailand's Medical Science Department showed all the returnees tested negative to influenza A(H1N1).

"It's good that health authorities have good measures in place," Jatuporn said.

All returnees from Mexico were put under medical surveillance at Bamrasnaradura Institute after arriving back at Suvarnabhumi Airport. They underwent an extensive medical check-up before being allowed to go home.

Benchamarachuthit School Chanthaburi director Manoch Kongchareon, 56, said the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) had forced him to cut short his stay in the Mexico's Oaxaca.

"I was not panicked but I was advised to fly back," he said.

Manoch was among seven Thai teachers chosen to visit Mexico between April 24 and May 8 this year under the AFS Inter-cultural Programme.

Seven Thai students were also sent to Mexico under the same programme. All returned to Thailand together on Sunday.

"While I was in Mexico, I did my best to follow the medical instructions provided by Mexican health agency. I think this should prevent any risk," Manoch said.

Another Thai schoolgirl, 17, said although she had been in Mexico, she hardly felt the risk of A(H1N1) influenza because the region where she was stayed had no such infection. She had lived in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico.

"My daughter asked me: Is there any kind of this disease in Mexico? Is it true?" her father Bootor said. " The city where she lived was far away from Mexico City." He also declined to give his family name.