Government volunteer, not protester, catches A(H1N1) flu

Malinee Suvejworakit, a deputy BMA governor, told a press conference that the man is not a protester as earlier announced by the Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

She said it has yet to be established as to whether the man got the A(H1N1) flu from his home province of Phetchaburi or from the rally site when he was deployed to help security officials to monitor the situation.

Malinee said the man travelled from Phetchaburi on March 11 and became ill on March 18.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit earlier Monday announced that lab tests confirmed the 40-year-old red shirt had come down with the disease.

"He is now at the BMA General Hospital," Jurin said.

His announcement came one day after red-shirt leaders insisted that no demonstrators caught the A(H1N1) virus in the wake of a confirmed report that a TV reporter covering the red-shirt rally in Bangkok had come down with the disease.

According to Jurin, the TV reporter has given Oseltamivir - the medicine for the influenza A(H1N1) - and her conditions have improved satisfactorily.

The public health minister now warned the red-shirt demonstrators to be extra careful when spending their time in a large crowd.

"Wash your hands regularly, use serving spoons, and eat only hot food," Jurin said.

He said anyone developing flu-like symptoms should leave the rally site and stay home until they fully recover.

"That will reduce the risk of spreading the disease to others," he said.

Jurin added that if the symptoms did not improve within two days, the patient must immediately see the doctor.

"And in case you have chronic diseases like diabetes or asthma, you should rush to doctors right after you develop flu-like symptoms," he said.

According to Jurin, up to 532 people have caught the influenza A(H1N1) between March 13 and March 19. Of them, one succumbed.

"He had had chronic diseases," Jurin said.