Flu Epidemic Escalate In Thailand Amid Concern Of All Sides

[churchill]

BANGKOK, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Thai cabinet on Thursday approved the temporary closure of tutoring schools and net cafes for 15 days, starting from Monday, amid the deep concern from the government, the opposition and academics over the accelerating national epidemic of the Influenza A/H1N1, which have taken a death toll of 13 in the country.

The spreading of the new flu strain in Thailand has been speeding up since July. Starting from May 12 when Thailand reported its first two flu cases, it took the influenza virus more than 90 days to infect the first 1,500 people. Only nine days after entering July, however, the country is expected to see a second 1,500 soon.

As of Thursday, Thai Public Health Ministry reported 211 newly-infected cases, bringing the total infection number to 2,925, more than doubled than the 1,414 cases on June 30.

In terms of death cases, the A/H1N1 flu has claimed 13 lives as of July 9, Thursday, compared with only three deaths reported by June 30.

In an attempt to contain the new virus strain, all hospitals under supervision of the public health ministry are now offering a one-stop service to screen patients with flu symptoms.

Among what is in response to the ever-escalating flu threat, Thursday's cabinet meeting endorsed that all tutoring schools throughout the country will be closed during July 13-28, as the Public Health Ministry found that many patients, who are students, have contracted the virus from tutoring schools.

The cabinet also asked owners of net cafes to cooperate with the government by closing their businesses during the same period so as to help curb the virus spreading.

The move came after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wednesday, after meeting Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai on the flu situation, that there is "no need to close down the country" to halt the spread of the flu virus.

The premier accepted that the number of A/H1N1 patients may be higher than those officially confirmed by lab tests, but affirmed that the government is not hiding the situation or withholding information.

Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa on Thursday make known his plan of going and meeting his Chinese counterpart next month to discuss tourism promotion between the two countries, after he said the flu pandemic is expected to continue for months and will add to the burdens of the country's tourism sector, which has been suffering from the global financial meltdown.

The education and public health ministries announced a series of urgent preventive measures for primary and secondary schools nationwide, including every-morning physical check on students and immediate separation of students with symptoms, starting from July 13. And information on fundamental public health and sanitation care will be promoted continuously for two weeks beginning from July 13 among schools nationwide, including private and vocational schools, the ministry said.

Academics see the epidemic a big blow to Thai economy, as director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thanawat Polwichai, warned Wednesday that it could further shrink the ailing economy if the government fails to curb the outbreak.

Thanawat said that if the flu outbreak is not kept under control by September, it will destroy the people's confidence and reduce domestic consumption and touring. As a result, it would reduce the gross domestic product (GDP) for the forth quarter of the year to only zero to one percent, from the previous projection of one-two percent. The economic growth rate for 2009, in turn, could contract by about 3.8-4.8 percent, from earlier forecast of 3.5-4.5 percent, he said.

On the other hand, in face of the increasingly spread of the epidemic, the opposition Puea Thai Party has called for Public Health Minister Witthaya to resign, citing his incapability in handling the A/H1N1 flu problem.

Witthaya responded on Wednesday that the party should "not play politics with the ministry" because it will unfairly pressure medical personnel.

Abhisit said on the same day that the situation will be closely monitored and patients under close observation. Although Thailand has low rate of A/H1N1 deaths (0.4 percent of those confirmed cases), he vowed that his government expanding its response to contain the A/H1N1 outbreak and to bring a halt to the rising death toll.

The government is also considering establishing a special task force unit to look after patients seriously suffering from the disease, Abhisit said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/...nt_11681676.htm

[churchill]

Note from above

" The government is also considering establishing a special task force unit to look after patients seriously suffering from the disease, Abhisit said. "

and from this article http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...aksin-from-fiji

"He said if at least 1.5 per cent of the population are infected with the A/H1N1 flu, it would be necessary for the government to abide by the international standard and seal the country.

"If the country is closed, it would not affect the 42nd Asean Meeting in Phuket as the cabinet has agreed to enforce the Internal Security Act in the province from July 10 to 24," he said.

The regional meeting will take place between July 16 and 23."