Pneumonia, not swine flu, killed German woman

Citing an autopsy report, deputy permanent secretary Dr Phaijt Warachit said the 65-year-old had contracted pneumonia, which was made worse by the pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria infection. Pneumonia is curable and is rarely fatal if properly treated.

In order to ensure maximum accuracy and transparency in results, the police forensic unit, Siriraj Hospital's medical school and the ministry's Department of Medical Science jointly conducted the autopsy.

Phaijit reiterated that so far there were only two Thai people who had contracted Influenza A (H1N1) after an overseas trip.

A woman from Kalasin suspected of contracting the swine-flu virus is now quarantined at a Phang Nga hospital. She recently returned from Japan and flew to Phang Nga right after landing at Suvarnabhumi. Test results, made available tomorrow, will determine whether she really has contracted Influenza A (H1N1).

Meanwhile, new software to enhance performance and shorten the inspection process to just 0.03 seconds was installed in a thermal scanning machine at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. There are no reports of whether the software would be installed in other machines at Suvarnabhumi or elsewhere.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, Deputy Minister Manit Nopamornbodi and Science Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich visited the airport yesterday to inspect the new software.