Did you just sneeze?

Speaking after a phone call to discuss the situation with Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr Malinee Sukavejworakit said members of the public should remain on the alert for symptoms and take preventative measures such as wearing a face mask and staying at home for three days if they were sick.

Fast track for flu

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered hospitals and clinics under its care (Central, Taksin, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang, Ratchaphiphat, Charoenkrung Pracharak, Siridhorn, Luangpor Thavisak, Vajira and the BMA Medical College) to open a fasttrack channel for suspected flu patients. The BMA is also dispatching health officials to flu hotspots in the city.

The special channels provide a onestop service for people with flu symptoms and are open from 8am to 4pm every day, Malinee said.

After 4pm, doctors and nurses are on call at BMA district offices until 10pm, while roving health officials are on duty to respond to emergency cases.

Hotline catches a fever

The number of calls to the BMA's 1555 hotline for flu information has risen sharply, said Malinee. It logged about 60 calls a week ago when it opened but that number had risen to 498 by Wednesday.