Number of Influenza cases 774 confirmed

Confirmed cases of type-A (H1N1) influenza in Thailand have risen to 774, after 69 new cases were reported yesterday, according to Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.

He said 14 of the new cases were undergoing treatment at hospitals in Bangkok. One, a 57-year-old woman, admitted to a private hospital, is now suffering from pneumonia, Witthaya said. He said another 1,310 cases were under observation and waiting for laboratory test results. Witthaya said seasonal flu virus kills 300 people a year, so there's a likelihood of fatalities among patients with the new flu virus also. Dr Teerawat Kulthanan, dean of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, said the new influenza A (H1N1) has a low mortality rate of 0.5 percent. Its early symptoms were not different from seasonal flu and "the best way to prevent flu infection is just taking care your health," he said. Witthaya told students to protect themselves by practising personal hygiene, eating well cooked food, and frequently washing hands. "If you have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms, wear a face mask and stay at home to prevent spreading disease to others, and if you have a high fever go to a doctor," he said. Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said wearing a face mask could also prevent infection from respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influenza. Since January to June, tuberculosis has infected 15,878 and killed 76; pneumonia 50,363 and claimed 418 lives; and 5,894 have been infected with seasonal flu virus, but with no fatalities reported. He said there were direct and indirect ways for infections to spread. People can get infected through close contact with patients; while indirect infections are caused by contact with contaminated items.