2009 Influenza kills 18 in Thailand since early 2014

BANGKOK, March 21 (TNA) - H1N1 Influenza has reoccured in Thailand since early this year, killing 18 victims so far and people are advised to immediately see doctors if they have flu-like symptoms, namely lingering high fever for a few days. Emeritus Professor Docter Prasert Thongjaroen, President of the Influenza Foundation (Thailand), told journalists on Friday, citing data gathered by the Ministry of Public Health's Bureau of Epidemiology (BOE) from January 1-March 17, 2014, that there were 18,290 H1N1 flu patients in Thailand, in which repeated outbreaks of the fatal viral strain were mostly reported in the northern and the southern regions, 18 of them had died. Dr. Prasert confirmed that, unlike overseas developments, a laboratory follow-up has not detected even any slight mutation of the H1NI flu strain in Thailand, noting that the mutation found overseas was only slightly and the existing treatment remains effective for the cure. Dr. Prasert acknowledged most of the fatalities of the H1N1 flu in Thailand were in their working ages, 25-40 years old, due mainly to their late medical attention. Dr. Prasert advised all people with flu-like symtoms in the country to immediately see doctors if their high fever persisted for two days, while also frequently washing their hands, consuming well cooked and hot food and using middle spoons. (TNA)