ID :
118659
Sun, 04/25/2010 - 20:24
Auther :

Six Red Shirts infected with A(H1N1) flu: BMA General Hospital

BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) – Bangkok Municipality-operated BMA General Hospital on Sunday reported that six red-shirted protesters have contracted Influenza Type A (H1N1), and urged anti-government demonstration leaders to screen possible carriers from exposure to other Red Shirt protesters

Hospital director Dr Pichaya Nakwatchara said that seven male Red Shirts with flu-like symptoms were sent to receive medical treatment at the hospital on Friday.

Following the laboratory test of their phlegm, it found that six out of seven patients have been infected with the A(H1N1) virus.

The virus-positive persons are a 16-year-old Sukhothai youth, a Chiang Mai youth, aged 18, and a 28-year-old man from Ubon Ratchathani and Loei resident, aged 42.

The other two patients coming from Si Sa Ket are aged 31 and 36 respectively.

All six persons, who joined the anti-government protest in Bangkok between March 12 and April 22, are under quarantine in the hospital.

In response to the report, Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukavejworakit assigned Bangkok health officials to coordinate with Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn, aiming to seek other high-risk protesters in the protest site.

According to their patient histories, the six men are from several provinces but they were ill in the same period, from April 21 to 22.

The officials aimed to contain the spread of the virus among other protesters.

However, Dr Weng urged the BMA General Hospital to clarify information, assuring that Red Shirt’s health groups well provide medical treatment for the demonstrators.

He also said that it is not easy that for the demonstrators to be infected with the disease as the protest venue is an open-air area as well as the weather is in high temperature of some 40 degrees Celsius.

If the A(H1N1) virus spread among the protesters, the health team will provide sanitary masks for them. (TNA)

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