Flu outbreak sweeps Thailand: OCP9 reminds ‘mask up’ to stay well

[webfact]

 

Thailand is grappling with a severe flu outbreak, with tens of thousands of patients reported in the past two months. The Office for Disease Control and Prevention 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima (OCP9) urges everyone to intensify precautionary measures and to continue wearing masks.

 

From January 1 to September 19, there have been 185,216 patients with flu and one death, with the majority being females. Most cases are found among 10 to 14 year olds, followed by newborns to four year olds and seven to nine year olds.

 

In the jurisdiction of Health Area 9, which includes the four lower northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Surin, there have been 18,186 flu patients and one death from January 1 to September 16.

In the past eight weeks, from July 23 to September 16, 10,424 patients have been reported. Nakhon Ratchasima has the highest number of flu patients, with 4,088 cases, almost six times more than in the same period last year when there were only 744 cases.

 

by Nattapong Westwood 

Photo: KhaoSod.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-03

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[2long]

Maybe because last year they weren't counting people with flu correctly, blaming some virus from China. Also, maybe people were either scared to leave home or even more scared to tell medical services that they have flu.

[poppysdad]

I’m curious to know how they get these figures. Is it simply that those suffering went to hospital and so were recorded as having flu or do people go somewhere and record that they have an illness. I’m currently suffering from a bad cold, or perhaps a weak flu version but apart from going to a pharmacy for some meds I’m staying home and no official would be any the wiser to adding me to any statistics. 

[circa02]

Here we go, this week's dose of fear, during the silly times this would of been a new winter variant, glad we are past that nonsense but would be nice if they didn't overreact about everything for once. I guess now covid and monkeypox are dead, you can still drum up fear of the flu... thais will be masking for the rest of the time..

[edwinchester]

28 minutes ago, 2long said:

Maybe because last year they weren't counting people with flu correctly, blaming some virus from China. Also, maybe people were either scared to leave home or even more scared to tell medical services that they have flu.

Unlikely because only those who tested covid+ were included in official figures for covid infections.

[cdnvic]

Rational discussion of course is allowed, but don't spread unsubstantiated medical hysteria. We don't care what side of a debate you are on, but if you want to make claims of a medical nature back it up with *reliable* sources (Not politicians, bloggers, or news pundits).

 

Removed one such post as it violates our community standards.

[ikke1959]

I am not female and much older than 14 years, so I don't wear a mask

Edited October 3, 2023 by ikke1959

[transam]

5 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I am not female and much older than 14 years, so I don't wear a mask

Don't worry, it's just the ageing process...........????

[connda]

Get that Nose-Bag of Compliance on your faces commoners.  It's pretty hysterical to look at pictures of foreign dignitaries - all maskless - surrounded by the 'commoners' who are all masked up.

The current Wheel of Time series pretty much sums up the masking to separate the commoners from the elites.  What do you do with those whom you control?  You use a physical device to shut their mouths.

[GreasyFingers]

9 hours ago, poppysdad said:

I’m curious to know how they get these figures. Is it simply that those suffering went to hospital and so were recorded as having flu or do people go somewhere and record that they have an illness. I’m currently suffering from a bad cold, or perhaps a weak flu version but apart from going to a pharmacy for some meds I’m staying home and no official would be any the wiser to adding me to any statistics. 

But you are not Thai. They all go on the slightest pretence (family included) to get more of the magic tablets that cure everything as long as you take them for the rest of your Thai life. It is a joke what they take.

[zhounan]

In January 2020 we entered in a tunnel of fear mongering without escape 

[RichardColeman]

10 hours ago, 2long said:

Maybe because last year they weren't counting people with flu correctly, blaming some virus from China

Not worry with the mass Chinese tourist invasion supposedly about to happen, they can blame it again soon

[poppysdad]

I have a Thai wife who swears by tiger balm and similar as the magic elixir which will solve all ailments no matter how serious. 

[connda]

3 hours ago, zhounan said:

In January 2020 we entered in a tunnel of fear mongering without escape 

This is escape.  Refuse To Participate. 

[swm59nj]

If you can afford to get a yearly flu vaccine then get. 
Many expats usually downplay vaccines or any other medical treatments.  Because they either have little to no health insurance.  Or sufficient funds to pay for it.  

 

 

[Rimmer]

An off topic deflection from a questionable source has been removed

[connda]

13 hours ago, swm59nj said:

If you can afford to get a yearly flu vaccine then get. 
Many expats usually downplay vaccines or any other medical treatments.  Because they either have little to no health insurance.  Or sufficient funds to pay for it.  

 

 

The price of a flu shot is a pittance.  If you want the shot.