Teacher, baby latest victims?

Siripat Phowon passed away two days after being admitted to Surat Thani Hospital. Lab tests are underway to confirm if she had the new flu.

Her relatives said Siripat sought treatment earlier for chikungunya - a mosquito borne virus - which many in her family had caught. All had recovered satisfactorily, but Siripat developed fever and felt chest pain before being taken to hospital.

"Overall, she'd always lived a healthy lifestyle. She was health conscious, and exercised regu¬larly," a relative said.

Meanwhile, a preliminary autopsy result revealed yester¬day a fourmonthbaby who succumbed recently to pulmonary edema had caught new flu. The health ministry said a sample of the boy's lung tissue had been sent for lab tests.

Bureau of Epidemiology director Dr Passakorn Akarasewee said the child was youngest possible case of the typeA (H1N1) flu. The child had choked on amniotic fluid and had pneumonia when he was a month old but was treated and improved.

However, people infected with the new flu virus recently visited the baby's home and he came down with flu symptoms. His mother had also taken her son outside.

Children under two years are seen as a group at risk of getting the flu virus.

Department of Medical Service health expert Dr Tawee Chotepitayasunon said the number of pregnant women infected with the new flu had increased but there was nothing to worried about.

He said the disease could not be transmitted via blood, so unborn babies would not get the bug from their mums. But babies might get it if they were fed with breast milk from a mother with the flu.