Thailand confirms first two flu cases

The tests carried out by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States and Department of Medical Science had confirmed the type-A (H1N1) virus in samples from the two Thai nationals, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said.

"There were two confirmed cases of type A (H1N1), both of them contracted in Mexico," he said. "These persons are now well, not sick, without fever. They are now in a normal condition after undergoing a five-day antiviral regimen. The patients have fully recovered and returned home."

Witthaya was speaking at a press conference chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who is overseeing the outbreak-prevention operations for influenza type A (H1N1).

He said the Public Health Ministry had registered one of the unidentified persons as the first suspected local case of type-A (H1N1) influenza last Saturday. The second case was registered as a confirmed case yesterday.

The Public Health Ministry sent test samples of the first case to the US Centres for Disease and Prevention to verify if the suspected case did have the virus. Lab results returned on Monday confirmed the first person was infected with the new flu virus.

Meanwhile, the second infected case was confirmed by lab results from the Medical Science Department.

Both of them had mild influenza type A (H1N1) symptoms a few days after arriving in Thailand. They informed the Health Ministry when the symptoms appeared. They were given the antiviral drug oseltamivir for five days and fully recovered within a few days.

"Both people were infected outside the country," Witthaya said. " I insisted that there was no spread of the disease in Thailand. "

The patient's relatives and all passengers who travelled on the same aeroplane as the patient are now safe, he added.

The Health Ministry will report these cases to the World Health Organisation and inform Asean members," he said.

The Disease Control Department's spokesperson, Dr Kamnun Ungchusak said the genetic information from samples taken from the patients, confirmed by the US-CDC would help Thailand to develop a vaccine and rapid-test kit for diagnosis of the new flu virus.

The Health Ministry no longer needs to send samples to the US for confirmation.

However, the Public Health Ministry has declined to disclose any information regarding the two cases including gender and age.

"The patient's relatives have requested us to not reveal any details about their personal information to the public and we will respect their rights," Witthaya said.

In a bid to prevent the spread of disease around the country, the Cabinet has approved a budget to purchase 10 thermal scanners for the international airport and other ports of entry to detect any possible A (H1N1) cases.

Witthaya also instructed health-care volunteers in the provinces to keep watch for any villager that might be infected with type A (H1N1) flu virus. They have been told to inform the Health Ministry immediately if any suspected cases are found.