Hotel Taiwanese patients lived in under scrutiny

The Public Health Ministry's Surveillance and Rapid Response Team is surveying a hotel where two Taiwanese tourists suspected of having type A(H1N1) influenza stayed during their visit to Pattaya, to devise ways of controlling the disease.

Somchai Chakrabhand, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said the procedure, implemented earlier in Hua Hin where a German tourist was diagnosed with the flu, would be repeated in Pattaya.

Thai Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday many tourists entering Thailand were trying to avoid the influenza detecting thermal scanners at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

Some reduced their body temperature by using cool water to wash their face and taking antipyretic drugs. Such avoidance, by both homecoming Thais and tourists, could cause the disease to spread.

The discovery that two Taiwanese had been infected with the new flu virus in Thailand would have little effect on the tourism industry.

" The Public Health Ministry has done its best by using the heightened measures of surveillance to prevent the spread of disease, measures not used by the US and Europe," he said.

" We have to make the public understand that this disease could be treated and the rate of mortality is low," he added.

The Public Health Ministry reports the number of new flu victims in the country has reached 13.Another 31 are under observation for the flu. Of this number, 19 returned from the US.

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Thailand is expected to rise daily in as Thai students, study in the US under the Work and Travel project, return home after completing it.

" [People among] this group might have been infected as they have been in the US for a long time," he said.

The Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit said about 200 students with the programme, might return from the US within this month.

"They will be told to stay at home for few days if they develop flu-like symptoms," he said.

The Disease Control Department's senior health officer, Dr Passakorn Akarasewee, said the ministry will also monitor pregnant women and patients with chronic disease as they are in the risk group for the virus infection.