Ministry calls for close vigilance on influenza

The move comes after the ministry found that most of the patients in upcountry provinces have had a severe form of influenzalike illness as a result of delayed treatment, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said.

He said the provincial health officers and health volunteers will work together to detect and screen patients with influenzalike illness in villages. Patients with severe form of influenzalike illness will be brought to hospital for treatment.

This measure will focus on disease control and prevention in the North and Northeastern areas where the number of people infected with the new flu virus and admitted at hospital has increased drastically during the past few months.

The Bureau of Epidemiology has reported that the influenza pandem¬ic is still spreading and unstoppable.

The Public Health Ministry on Monday reported that about 130 people had died from the typeA (H1N1) virus, while the laboratory confirmed 16,876 cases of infection.

The Health Ministry estimated that about 20 million people will catch the new flu virus during the first wave of pandemic, which will end in the next two months.

"We must ensure that people are vigilant to prevent the influenza as we do not know yet when the second wave or the third wave of the epidemic will reemerge," he said.

"The ongoing campaign against influenza infection must be continued to reduce morbidity and mortal¬ity," he added.

Meanwhile, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) was yesterday scheduled to test the vaccine against the new influenza virus in 24 volunteers aged 18 to 49. The first phase of clinical trial will be conducted for a month before testing in 400 volunteers.

GPO is now waiting for the result of the animal trial, which will study the toxicity, the safety, and the sterilisation in animals before testing in 24 volunteers. The result was expected to be revealed in the next two weeks.