The Public Health Ministry is urging people to pay strict attention to their personal hygiene to cut down on their chances of catching the flu.
"There were signs of the 2009 flu virus in some areas during this year's flu season, along with some areas becoming hot spots," Dr Passakorn Assawasewee, director of the Department of Disease Control's Bureau of Epidemiology, said.
According to the bureau's most recent report, about 260 people developed flulike symptoms over the past two weeks, raising the number of infections this year to 8,442, with some 57 people dying from the typeA (H1N1) virus. The virus hit Thailand last April, infecting 30,336 people and killing 197 of them.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the end of the pandemic in July after it had spread to 214 countries and killed more than 18,449 people across the world.
"However, we have found that the virus is still spreading in urban communities, schools, temples and offices," Passakorn said. "There is a high possibility of the outbreak recurring again this year."
A survey conducted from August 22 to 28 on 710 hospitals across the country showed that 232 hospitals in 68 provinces encountered a 10percent increase in the number of flu patients.
Passakorn said people with flulike symptoms should stay at home and seek medical treatment immediately if they have a high fever for more than two days. Doctors are still recommended to prescribe the antiviral drug Oseltamivir to patients with flu symptoms.
In addition, people in the highrisk category should get vaccinated against the A/H3N2, B and typeA (H1N1) viruses. Those most at risk are patients with chronic diseases including obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease, stroke, renal failure, thalassemia, HIV/Aids and diabetes as well as those undergoing chemotherapy. The people also at risk include frontline healthcare workers, women three months into their pregnancy, obese people as well as the disabled.
However, Passakorn said there was no reports of the typeA (H1N1) virus mutating or anyone developing a resistance to the antiviral drug in Thailand.
On Tuesday, WHO urged all countries to maintain vigilance during the current postpandemic period.
"The virus is likely to continue causing serious illnesses in younger age groups. Protecting highrisk groups and maintaining vigilance are recommend actions," Dr Margaret Chan, WHO's directorgeneral, said. "The virus has not gone away."
Based on experience with past pandemics, WHO expects the H1N1 virus to take on the behaviour of a seasonal influenza virus and continue circulating for some years to come.
This pattern is being seen in a few parts of the world, including in Southeast Asia.