SMS warning

An estimated 2.4 million people will receive warning about Influenza A (H1N1) via an SMS from the Public Health Ministry because their lives will certainly be at risk if they are infected.

"We are going to seek co-operation from cellphone operators," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.

He said people with chronic diseases face a higher death risk from Influenza A (H1N1), which has already killed |18 people in Thailand.

According to Witthaya, the SMS will advise people in the risky group to seek immediate medical treatment if they develop flu-like symptoms.

Health volunteers |to be deployed

Witthaya added that health volunteers would be deployed to monitor people.

"Influenza A (H1N1) will likely stay with us until we have an effective vaccine against it or have developed immunity against it," the |public health minister said.

To guard against the new virus, many people have already turned to facemasks but these have run out of stock at some places.

"We have sold hundreds of facemasks each day," said Thammanoon Prasertsap, who runs a pharmacy in Nakhon Sawan.

Locals in this central province have their facemasks on at crowded spots like hospitals and shopping complexes.

More than 4,000 students in the province also wore the masks when they sat for the General Aptitude Test and the Professional Aptitude Test.

"We have been on the watch for students with flu-like symptoms," Nakhon Sawan Educational Service Area 1 Office director Somboon Tiprangsee said.

In Ranong, provincial public health chief Dr Thongchai Kiratihattayakorn said there were two confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) cases in Kra Buri district.

"It's now impossible to prevent the spread of the disease, but we should at least be able to control its spread and reduce the fatality rate," he said.

Thongchai will convene a meeting with relevant local agencies today in a bid to tackle the deadly disease.

>> For inquiries, call Hotline 1669, 1330 or 1442.