Health Covid-19's XEC Variant Spreads Like Wildfire, Says Thai Health Ministry

[bubblegum]

Anti vax  = Pro Trump

Magaman are weird.

[chilli42]

18 hours ago, edwinchester said:

That is absolutely not happening. All they are suggesting, after stressing the mild symptoms, is to take care for the sake of those in vulnerable groups who make up the vast majority of serious cases.

Right now. It’s a slippery slope down as we found out last time.

[peter48]

15 hours ago, Magictoad said:

You are a 100% correct.  I'm in Pattaya and wondering where I can get a Covid-19 vaccination. I really had to hustle last time. They were like gold dust. My sister in the UK in her 80s goes every year for a Covid vaccination. The local pharmacy does them as well as her GP. This anti vax thing is an American thing that is unknown in Britain. I think it's because the NHS provides free vaccination to the whole population that only religious extremists and some other freaks/hippies object to vaccinations. I notice that there is a strong anti vax movement here on AN because they can't hang out on medical or scientific forums. It's insane !

Covid hits the elderly far more seriously than others. Brits over 75 have had a Spring booster earlier this year. It seems down to so many factors like your immunity, respiratory system, possibly weight, vitamin D etc., But one thing for sure its serious. Never forget it was under Trump ( 1,219,487 to date) and Johnson ( up to 230,000 deaths)  that some of the highest deaths figures globally were recorded because they were late to take it seriously. India and Peru and Mexico too.  

Generally what happens is that at its height the hospitals never have enough intensive care facilities ( that's why Germany came out far better) . Advanced Covid more or less 'drowns the lungs' in the most worst cases. How come? 

 

• Fluid builds up in the lungs

• Airflow is restricted

• The person can't get enough oxygen

[AlQaholic]

20 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Only if you want to be, it's a private hospital and you can pay or have insurance. If it's a Govt Hospital they'll give you a packet of paracetamol and tell you to go home and rest.

I once tried to force a local public hospital to admit a child of a relative to my Thai wife, who was diagnosed with Pneumonia. After a lot of back and forth, the hospital admin came out to talk to me. She admitted that, yes, in a perfect world, the child should be admitted. But all private rooms were already full, They could not leave the child in the open population due to risks such as contracting other diseases and other risks related to understaffing. Bottom line, the child is safer at home.

[qwab32]

My partner had COVID over the weekend but is now clear after about 4 days of testing.  She had one day like a bad cold / mild flu then the symptoms cleared up.  She has now graciously passed it to me, I'm 3 days of positive tests but no symptoms.  

[Luuk Chaai]

On 5/21/2025 at 10:34 PM, JoseThailand said:

 

Nobody's gonna believe this crap again

sadly ....    the world is chock full of gullible people

 

[Luuk Chaai]

On 5/21/2025 at 9:49 PM, Pouatchee said:

 

I get what youre saying, but having astbma snd COPD i just digned up for a covid booster and influenza booster too. Im in canada coming to thailand in end of june and the last thing i want is to be hospitalised again. I spent the worst 3 months of my life this winter bring hospitalised a dozen times.

 

For me, covid is something to be taken seriously... despite what many say i know for a fact it could pfobably kill me.

so will eating and sharing your spit with everyone else  while eating   ( notice all the large and readily available serving spoons ?   (NOT !!! )

https://importfood.com/images/features/thai-eating-customs/thaimeal_1l.jpg

 

[rattlesnake]

On 5/21/2025 at 3:40 AM, webfact said:

In just a week, Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a 35.5% jump, numbering 43,213 both for in-patients and outpatients.

 

What is the vaccination status of the hospitalised people?

 

[Bring on the BS rationalisations]

[rattlesnake]

16 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Anti vax  = Pro Trump

Magaman are weird.

 

How many shots have you had and how many times did you catch Covid?

[Paul Henry]

Harryviking is singing from the Trump book.It will go away. So did the lives of over 1.2 million people in the USA because of Trumps ignorance.He also tried to stop counting cases so he could lie to the people and say its not as bad as it was.

[howlee101]

In other news, the tourism authority declares "absolutely no prostitution in Pattaya" 😏

[rramsey]

Anyone who takes health advice from rando postings on an expats forum deserves the results they get

[Sydebolle]

Well, well, here we go again. In a country, where a doctor attests Malaria on an infant who is teething on two spots simultaneously and hence has high fever, in a country where an 8-month year old toddler is analyzed food poisoning and subsequent pumping out the little stomach for nothing else but an infection over a bottle of milk which was not properly sterilized, in a country where they wanted to operate on both my eyes to insert multifocal lenses while I had the beginning of AMD and found out only at the third medical - equally 5* - facility ....

And you want to tell me, that all those semi-divine doctors know all the details on XEC variant of Covid-19?

Thais, who do not dare to ask their doctor questions for the fear of angering the doctor by challenging his professional background, might fall for this. Let's see, how many millions if not billions are extracted from the governmental's purse this time. 

[bbbbooboo]

hmm… rumor mongering also spreads misinformation like wildfire

[newbee2022]

On 5/21/2025 at 9:19 PM, ViajeroLA said:

How someone could be so stupid to take anything "covid-related" seriously is just beyond imagination 🙃

Your level of no illiteracy is amazing

[Hummin]

On 5/21/2025 at 2:06 PM, connda said:

Best to shove swabs up kid's noses, mandate masks for everyone, social distance because we tell you to, force everyone to get shots, and of course start closing all "non-essential businesses" again.  Time to hammer the final stake though the heart of the Thai economy and put an end to small and medium size businesses in the name of Covid - The king of all diseases.  And close the airports.  No more tourism!  And roll out the "Experts" again to scare the commoners into compliance.  Gotta pick up where they left off.

That would be great, I truly miss covid, my best time in Thailand ever! 

[thjames007]

On 5/21/2025 at 9:19 PM, ViajeroLA said:

How someone could be so stupid to take anything "covid-related" seriously is just beyond imagination 🙃

Ya. No one is getting sick.  I heard that on FB and its the truth!!  Also the flu does not exist and the common cold is a scam.  Don't listen to these Dr's and scientists they are all scammers telling you these lies. 

[MadMac]

Only in Thailandia. Must be that HUB thing 

[Hammerheads]

On 5/21/2025 at 2:06 PM, connda said:

Best to shove swabs up kid's noses, mandate masks for everyone, social distance because we tell you to, force everyone to get shots, and of course start closing all "non-essential businesses" again.  Time to hammer the final stake though the heart of the Thai economy and put an end to small and medium size businesses in the name of Covid - The king of all diseases.  And close the airports.  No more tourism!  And roll out the "Experts" again to scare the commoners into compliance.  Gotta pick up where they left off.

As a consultant working for the UK NHS for 5 years during Covid-19, we lost 10 people (that I knew to a degree - all fit and healthy) to the original strain. The saving grace was that we had great scientists around the world working swiftly to provide a vaccine. The issue is that any virus impacts people differently depending on their age, ethnicity, medical condition etc. I'm totally thankful to those people who created the vaccines and so glad you are not involved in such a program.

[WDSmart]

Is there a new vaccine for this yet?

[JJ-Thailand]

I got sick with Covid XEC five days ago. Felt really bad the first few days but it is much better already, not worse than a hang hover this morning.

[actonion]

On 5/21/2025 at 6:53 PM, edwinchester said:

Only if you want to be, it's a private hospital and you can pay or have insurance. If it's a Govt Hospital they'll give you a packet of paracetamol and tell you to go home and rest.

They gave my Thai Mrs enough pills to sink a ship,  she only had a runny nose ...

[actonion]

On 5/22/2025 at 12:47 PM, Terry Juhlin said:

Many Thais will demand hospitalization when is comes to colds and sniffles …

 

On 5/22/2025 at 12:47 PM, Terry Juhlin said:

Many Thais will demand hospitalization when is comes to colds and sniffles …

And Headaches

[Captbonio]

On 5/21/2025 at 8:40 AM, webfact said:

File photo courtesy of Photo: Xinhua/VNA

 

The alarming spread of the XEC variant of Covid-19 has put Thailand's Public Health Ministry on high alert as the virus is reportedly spreading seven times faster than the common flu. A concerted effort led by Minister Somsak Thepsuthin aims to safeguard vulnerable groups, while also keeping a vigilant eye on its proliferation in schools throughout the nation.

 

According to official figures, since January 1st, 108,891 cases of the XEC variant have been logged, resulting in 27 fatalities.

 

The majority of the deaths, around 80%, have tragically been among senior citizens, highlighting the virus's dangerous impact on the elderly, classified under the "608 group."

 

Despite the swift transmission, the strain, a descendant of Omicron, is noted for its relatively mild severity. However, its rapid spread raises significant concerns, especially with the variant having already impacted children as well.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged educational institutions to keep a watchful eye and manage potential clusters amongst pupils.

 

Health expert Dr Teera Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University underlines that this Covid-19 strain continues to be the foremost infectious disease, affecting individuals across all ages, including young children, teenagers, and those in the working-age bracket.

 

In just a week, Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a 35.5% jump, numbering 43,213 both for in-patients and outpatients.

 

Three fresh fatalities were recently reported in Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai, and Bangkok Noi, underscoring the persistent threat posed by this highly transmissible variant.

 

The country remains in its 21st week of applying disease control measures to mitigate further spread and protect at-risk populations.

 

The Thai authorities maintain vigilance, focusing resources on shielding the most vulnerable while the quick spread of the virus prompts continuous review and adaptation of health protocols.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-21

 

 

If this was reported in a less sensationist  manner, it would qualify the 27 deaths from whatever this virus is to the normal amount of deaths from flu, which in Thailand , up until 2020 was in the 2500- 4000 per year. As with the rest of the world when Covid struck, the annual death rate from flu went from 30m odd, to none, of course, as Covid was now the factor (supposedly) . So where are these flu deaths being reported now? If, by past records, there should have been at least a 1000, meaning that 27 now is a massive result. 

[zepplin]

On 5/21/2025 at 9:19 PM, ViajeroLA said:

How someone could be so stupid to take anything "covid-related" seriously is just beyond imagination 🙃

Well I’m on Samui , and it or the cold is spreading pretty quickly, I had it a few weeks ago and it wasn’t nice , so your statement is just plain pathetic and ignorant! 

[Robert Smith 2]

Not as fast as ASEAN flu...

[sandrew33]

On 5/21/2025 at 10:09 PM, Magictoad said:

You are a 100% correct.  I'm in Pattaya and wondering where I can get a Covid-19 vaccination. I really had to hustle last time. They were like gold dust. My sister in the UK in her 80s goes every year for a Covid vaccination. The local pharmacy does them as well as her GP. This anti vax thing is an American thing that is unknown in Britain. I think it's because the NHS provides free vaccination to the whole population that only religious extremists and some other freaks/hippies object to vaccinations. I notice that there is a strong anti vax movement here on AN because they can't hang out on medical or scientific forums. It's insane !

This is largely just BS though. I’m Aussie and not anti vaccine but the Covid vaccination program has materially negatively impacted views of vaccines all around the world including the UK. See attached 

 

You are likely quite old and so even relatively mild respiratory illness is potentially an issue for you but let’s not say increasing lack of trust of vaccines and public health officials more broadly hasn’t been widespread - it’s far from only Americans - maybe at your age you are just out of touch with reality 🙂 

[Mywayboy]

Thais are not the most healthy resilient people they'll go to hospital at the drop of a hat with what they assume FEVER.

Could be headache or runny nose.

[Shwaman]

Don't normally opine in these discussions, but as a +70 year old it occurred to me that if our species succumbed to every new virus introduced through whatever zoonomic transmission, we would have gone extinct 500,000 years ago.

   Infants and the elderly have been dying at the back of the cave for 10s of thousands of years.

   Modern medicine has changed that though some would like to go back to the caves.

   In my mind the only legitimate question revolves  around how many  enterprising peoples lives do you destroy to save some whose lives are already well spent? ( Including my own).

   This is an ethical question that every government wrestled with 5 years ago. In retrospect I believe they they went way too far in protecting my cohort. I have great sympathy with those whose livelihoods were sacrificed. I hope that mistake never happens again.

   Vaccine/ no Vaccine? To each their own. Live or die accordingly. In the cosmic scheme of things it doesn't matter one bit. 

    Regards. 

[jaideedave]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, well, here we go again. In a country, where a doctor attests Malaria on an infant who is teething on two spots simultaneously and hence has high fever, in a country where an 8-month year old toddler is analyzed food poisoning and subsequent pumping out the little stomach for nothing else but an infection over a bottle of milk which was not properly sterilized, in a country where they wanted to operate on both my eyes to insert multifocal lenses while I had the beginning of AMD and found out only at the third medical - equally 5* - facility ....

And you want to tell me, that all those semi-divine doctors know all the details on XEC variant of Covid-19?

Thais, who do not dare to ask their doctor questions for the fear of angering the doctor by challenging his professional background, might fall for this. Let's see, how many millions if not billions are extracted from the governmental's purse this time. 

Doctors in LOS are held in "god like" high esteem . I had the audacity to disagree with a Dr here in front of my wife on a symptom I had at the time.during an office visit. After we left the office she wouldn't speak to me for an hour(win) because of my perceived insubordination.555 I just made a joke of it but she's proven her stance a few times over the years. If he told her leap out of his window to cure a cold she would probably open the window herself and thank him.

Brainwashed since childhood like many locals.

Similar to the SHAMAN at the local temple chasing away any ghosts (for a small fee)