BMA well-prepared against H3N2 flu

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been well-prepared to prevent and contain any outbreak of the H3N2 human influenza A strain, including an offer of free vaccinations against the virus to people in risk groups. Bangkok Governor Police General Asawin Kwanmuang told journalists of the BMA move on August 7, noting that he has instructed all relevant agencies under the City Hall to be on high alert against any possible outbreak of the H3N2 flu in their respective areas, with a special care given to people in the risk groups, including children, pregnant women and patients of lung, heart, brain, kidney, diabetes, obesity and thalassemia diseases, as well as HIV cases who are over 65 years old. The governor said he has also ordered a dispatch of health teams to provide proper knowledge and advice on preventing and containing any outbreak of the seasonal human flu at schools, residential communities and business firms in the city. Besides, a strict screening against suspected flu cases has also been assigned to parties concerned, especially at almost 70 public health centers and eight hospitals under the supervision of BMA. The governor advised that people also take good care of themselves and members of their families by wearing hygienic facemasks when feeling ill, frequent washing their hands, eating warm food with serving spoons and avoiding close contacts with patients. Meanwhile, Bangkok Deputy Governor Taweesak Lertpraphan told reporters that there had been 12,838 human flu cases in Bangkok during January 1-July 17, 2017, out of the total flu cases of 43,082 nationwide during the period, most of the flu cases in the capital were newborns until children of 14 years old. The deputy governor revealed while there had been five human flu fatalities nationwide during the first seven months of this year, there had been no flu death reported in Bangkok during the same period. The Bangkok deputy governor stated that BMA has offered free vaccinations against the deadly flu to over 66,000 people in the city so far.(TNA)