Tutorial schools, game shops may close to fight flu

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the measure should lower infections among young people as Thailand reported two more deaths from the virus yesterday, bringing recorded fatalities to 11.

Yesterday also saw 290 new cases, bringing the total to 2,714, of which 2,593 have recovered, 110 remain hospitalised and eight are being closely watched.

Among the new cases, 243 were aged below 25.

The World Health Organisation said Thailand ranked seventh out of the 10 countries hit hardest by type A (H1N1).

The United States was tops with 170 fatalities, followed by Mexico with 119 deaths and Argentina with 60. Canada has confirmed 37 deaths, Chile 14 and Australia 18.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said since 70-80 per cent of infected cases were students and teenagers, the ministry would consider four measures to prevent the spread of the disease, focusing on infection prevention among students.

The ministry may ask schools to postpone any activities that bring students together at school, especially freshman orientation.

Teachers and parents may be asked to screen children. If they appear to have flulike symptoms, they should be asked to stay home or be isolated, in order to prevent the spread of disease at school.

The ministry may ask private tutorial schools nationwide to close for two weeks, as most of the areas where these schools are located are crowded. Attendees also come from different provinces and can thus spread the disease faster than otherwise possible.

Finally, game shops may be asked to close for two weeks. Many students spend their free time after school playing games in these cafes, which have now become a source of infection.

Two weeks were decided on to protect students during the incubation period, when infected students do not present flulike symptoms, Prat said.