Numbers of flu cases in Thailand reach 89 Friday

Permanent Secretary for health Dr Prat Bunyawongwirote said that of the number, 37 received treatment from private hospitals in Bangkok, one from Songkhla and Phuket each and three from Pattaya.

World Health Organisation on Friday declared the flu has escalated into the world's first influenza pandemic in 40 years after infecting tens of thousands of people in 74 countries.

Meanwhile Ratchaburi on Friday reported its first case of the influenza 2009 after a Chinese man who just returned from visiting his home country was found infected by the flu.

Ratchaburi Governor Suthep Komonpamorn said the patient, identified as Lu Chen, 24, was receiving medical treatment for the influenza at Ban Pong Hospital in the province.

The patient was a Chinese who has been living in Thailand for about one year and working in a factory in the province. He just visited his relatives in China and returned to Thailand on June 10.

He was admitted to the hospital after having high flu, sore throat and running nose. Lab test confirmed that he was infected by the flu.

Doctors also visited the factory Lu worked and found that all workers wore face masks while working, making them believe that they may not be infected by the flu from Lu.

However they were asked that they report to the hospital if they had the same symptoms as Lu.