Ratchaburi woman becomes 7th Thai influenza fatality

The cumulative number of patients rose to 1,845 yesterday morning, with 134 new cases - 115 students and 19 persons pending further examination - confirmed.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi told a press conference that the woman had died at Central Ratchaburi Hospital at 8pm on Friday after developing a fever on June 25 and being admitted for a lung infection on Thursday.

Six family members have been put under close surveillance, he said.

Assoc Prof Thawee Chotepitthayasunon, head of an academic team at the ministry, said the woman had been determined post mortem to have had the virus.

He said that of the fatalities to date, 70 per cent were among those who already had chronic illness.

With large numbers of people expected to return to their home towns for the five-day holiday period, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai and officials yesterday went to Hua Lamphong railway station and Mo Chit bus terminal to campaign about the dangers of the type-A (H1N1) flu strain and how members of the public could protect themselves by washing their hands and using face masks.

They also went to the Siam Square area, where many tutoring schools are located, to urge the young to wear masks while in class and to stay at home if they developed a fever, or persistent coughing or sneezing.

As for the long holiday, the ministry suggests the young should stay at home to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, Witthaya added.

The minister said hospitals upcountry had been instructed to be on alert for a possible spread of the virus, especially among overweight people, those with diabetes, heart or lung disease, those with low immunity, people under five or over 65, and pregnant women.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he believed the five-day holiday period could ease the situation and that the Buddhist holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday, when alcohol sales are banned, should be a chance for entertainment venues to clean their premises and help prevent the virus from spreading.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the city administration would complete the project of cleaning 441 temples, 175 mosques and 70 churches today.

He said the previous project of cleaning schools had been effective because only two out of Bangkok's 435 public schools had reported anyone going down with the virus. He urged private schools and tutoring schools to clean up and said city officials would be willing to help.

Elsewhere, the northeastern province of Khon Kaen confirmed that a Mathayom-2 student who had returned from Bangkok had the type-A (H1N1) flu, while nine other students were under close hospital surveillance on suspicion of having contracted the virus.

Maha Sarakham province also put a three-months' pregnant woman on close watch as she was suspected of having the virus.

Amnat Charoen reported its first patient, an assistant nurse at Leu Amnat Hospital who returned from studying nursing in Nonthaburi.

Nan province also reported its first patient, a surgery-room nurse who fell sick on June 28, while Lampang reported two more cases - both Bangkok students - bringing the province's total to three.

In the South, Nakhon Si Thammarat province reported that four people were confirmed to have contracted the virus and another was pending lab results.