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A female TV reporter has become the first publicly identified victim of the typeA(H1N1) influenza - and on recovery she'll present a programme about the disease for the Public Health Ministry's upcoming campaign about the virus.

Noppakwan Naknual, a reporter from TV Channel 3, is now recovering satisfactorily at the Chest Disease Institute.

"I would like to point out the disease is not very dangerous," the 40yearold reporter said. "Its symptoms are very much like flu - fever, pains and aches, headaches, coughing and sneezing".

Noppakwan said she came down with fever on June 28 and decided to visit a doctor at a private hospital two days later after it became clear antipyretic could not reduce her temperature.

 "The doctor suggested I go to a state facility because, given that I had been covering the new influenza outbreak in many places, I could be infected with this disease too," she said, "So, I came to the Chest Disease Institute".

Noppakwan has been prescribed oseltamivir. Her husband and her son have also sought treatment at the same institute.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said Noppakwan would be invited to present a programme about the typeA(H1N1) influenza after she had fully recovered.

"She's a good example. She visited a doctor as soon as she realised her condition had not improved with common medicine," Witthaya said.

Witthaya said even though Noppakwan had long been an asthma sufferer,she would enjoy a satisfactory recovery.

"If one has a good immune system, the typeA(H1N1) influenza is not a big threat at all," the minister said.

A number of other news reporters covering the Public Health Ministry's beat have had fever lately, but most have recovered already.

"For those who haven't recovered, we recommend they take sick leave and stay at home," Witthaya said. If flulike symptoms develop and their condition feels serious, it's recommended they see a doctor.

Yesterday the Public Health Ministry confirmed 1,556 people have now come down with the new influenza in Thailand.

Five have died. Some 24 others are being treated at private and state hospitals.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said he planned to instruct state hospitals to provide special areas for people with flulike symptoms.

"This will reduce the chance of the A(H1N1) influenza spreading," Manit said.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Khon Kaen campus yesterday ordered all firstyear students to stay away from class until July 9 after 15 tested positive to the new influenza.

The Chon Buri kindergarten has also been closed to July 8 after the virus was detected in this eastern province.

Meanwhile, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation director Dr Witit Artavatkun said foreign experts would come to Thailand on July 12 with virus samples for a vaccine for typeA(H1N1) influenza. "It will take around three months to develop the vaccine prototype," he said.

He believed the country would be able to produce between 2.5million and 2.8million doses of the new influenza vaccine.