Thailand on alert against seasonal flu

BANGKOK, September 6 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health has ordered all public health offices nationwide to watch out outbreaks of seasonal influenza of all strains in their respective areas, especially in crowded places and communities. Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sophon Mekthon told journalists on September 5 that he has made the instruction, emphasizing on such crowded places as schools, military camps and prisons. Dr. Sophon explained that there have been reports on more human flu patients and deaths in Asia so far this year, with flu patients in Thailand alone during the first eight months of this year reaching 85,290 cases, 17 of them having died. Dr. Sophon affirmed, however, that there have been no cases of new human flu strains in Thailand so far, as all cases have been confirmed to be seasonal H1N1, H3N2 and B viral strains. According to the senior public health official, he has ordered all public health offices to specially watch out flu cases among people of risk groups, namely young children, the elderly and pregnant women, as well as patients of persistent diseases or illnesses and obese people. The senior public health official also advised people to always keep themselves healthy by drinking clean water at least 6-8 glasses a day, frequently wash their hands and take regular physical exercises, as well as avoid contacting with flu patients and stay away from crowded places, while those with flu symtoms, namely having a headache, high fever, muscle pain, running nose or coughing, should go to see doctors if they would not recover within 48 hours. (TNA)