No new bird flu patients in Thailand

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) - The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that there have been no new bird flu patients in Thailand, as control against avian influenza has apparently been effective for more than four years. The official confirmation was made this week by Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Songyot Chaichana and Deputy Director General of the ministry's Department of Disease Control Dr. Somsak Akkasilp, who acknowledged that concerned health authorities have examined the rumour case and found that the patient was actually infected with the H1N1 virus, whereas the bird flu is caused by H5N1 and H7N9 viral strains. According to the Thai health authorities, the 30-year-old male patient has already recovered from the flu, after he underwent a check-up at his workplace’s medical room and was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu. The health authorities said officials' use of the germ-killing sprays, similar to that of airlines’ procedure, in specific areas as a precaution could have panicked people who have seen it. The Department of Disease Control reassured that bird flu outbreak were last seen in Thailand about seven years ago, but all concerned parties, including village health volunteers, have closely monitored bird flu in their respective areas and in neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, there have been 30,000 patients in Thailand infected with influenza since early this year, mostly children and the elderly, while vaccines for flu prevention have been provided to 60 per cent of the population nationwide. (TNA)