Sunday, June 14, 2009

Swine Flu in Thailand



The escalating number of swine flu cases in Thailand is now starting to have a major impact on tourism. What else could possibly go wrong in that country? Andaman Times has a really frighteing story.

The number of swine flu cases in Thailand has almost quadrupled since Wednesday to 106. Schools have been ordered closed in Bangkok and entertainment venues have been asked to close in Pattaya and Phuket.

Thailand’s confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine-flu virus jumped to 106 yesterday, a five-fold leap in three days, health officials said.

“Altogether 106 swine flu cases were confirmed today,” Thai Health Minister Wittaya Kaewparadai said.

“All of them are now being placed in special wards to prevent the virus from spreading,” the minister told news reports on Saturday.

Entertainment establishments on Phuket were asked during a meeting Saturday to close their businesses for five days so that the owner would have enough time to clean and spray their places, according to the Thai News Agency.

The request was made after an employee of one entertainment centre was found to have contracted the virus, becoming the first case to have been reported in Phuket.

Blood tests on 26 employees of Phuket nightlife and other entertainment venues on the island believed to have come into close contact with Hong Kong tourists who returned home recently and were diagnosed with the virus, will be known later.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials on Saturday began cleaning and fumigating all 435 schools under the agency’s administration in the Thai capital.

The number of confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) virus victims in Thailand on Saturday rose by 17, bringing the total victims to 106, as experts admit that it is now difficult to control the virus from spreading in the country.

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