The Influenza Foundation of Thailand (IFT) yesterday urged the Public Health Ministry to vaccinate all redshirt demonstrators against typeA(H1N1) influenza after two people became infected.
"The disease can easily spread in a crowded area," IFT chairman Prasert Thongcharoen said.
In large groups, the virus could be directly transmitted between people via coughing or other forms of contact, he said. "Such transmission can take place regardless of weather conditions."
The ministry should have enough doses for the protesters, he said.
The red shirts have camped out on Bangkok streets for about 10 days now, as they step up pressure on PM Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House.
A volunteer guarding the Interior Ministry and a TV reporter covering the rally have separately come down with the potentially fatal typeA(H1N1) flu.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukvejvorakij, also a medical doctor, said the redshirt leaders had rejected the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's plan to conduct random health checks on the demonstrators at the rally site.
"They are worried the move will discourage people from coming to the rally," she said.
The leaders had tried to explain the movement had its own team of healthcare workers to take care of participants at the rally site, Malinee said.
Dr Montira Thongsari, director of BMA's Health Department, said the city could only man mobile medical units at spots near the rally site - such as in front of the Government Lottery Office and the Tourism Ministry.
"So far, most of the service's users have been soldiers and police," she said.
To prevent the spread of disease among demonstrators, the BMA has provided them with free masks and handcleansing gel.
A source said news about a volunteer from the Interior Ministry getting sick with the flu had scared officials there.
About 800 volunteers have been deployed to boost security around the Interior Ministry, and more than 10 have developed flulike symptoms.
