Strong turnout at Natas
August 28, 2009 by RDER
Filed under Related Interests
Travel-smitten Singaporeans, lured by attractive low fares and special promotions, began queuing at the entrance of the Singapore Expo as early as 7 am, three hours before the doors opened. --ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
IF RESPONSE on the first day of the NATAS travel fair is anything to go by,worries over the H1N1 virus have given way - to wanderlust. Travel-smitten Singaporeans, lured by attractive low fares and special promotions, began queuing at the entrance of the Singapore Expo as early as 7 am, three hours before the doors opened. Some visitors even took a day off work to attend the fair. Exhibitors were not surprised by the strong turnout. Chan Brothers marketing communications senior executive Jane Chang said: ‘The turnout is very encouraging, especially since the 10 am opening is earlier than the previous fairs. It was not unexpected because demand was also very high during our own company travel fair two weeks ago. Singaporeans love to travel.’ Dynasty Travel marketing communications senior manager Dorothy Lee was also not surprised. ‘Singaporeans have put off their travel plans when the H1N1 flu first surfaced. Now that they have a better understanding of the virus, Singaporeans are ready to travel again.’
Flu death toll reaches 81
August 5, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
The Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday that 16 more people died of the A (H1N1) flu virus last week, bringing the number of fatalities to 81.
Permanent secretary Phaichit Varachit said of the 16 flu victims nine were male and seven female, one of them pregnant. The ministry last Wednesday reported the flu death toll at 65. “People now have a better understanding of swine flu and better access to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu,” a statement from the ministry said. The World Health Organization reported that 1,154 swine flu patients in 160 countries had died. “The rate of flu infection is diminishing in Bangkok and its vicinity but the deadly virus is spreading in the provinces,” Dr Phaichit said.
Flu toll rises to 44, with 6,776 infected.
July 22, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
The swine flu death toll has more than doubled from 20 last week to 44, while the total number of confirmed A(H1N1) flu cases has rocketed to 6,776, the Public Health Ministry reported on Wednesday. Health deputy permanent secretary Paichit Varachit said 6,697 patients had recovered. Thirty-five others remained in hospitals and seven of them were in critical condition.
Swine Flu Causes Thailand School Closures
July 17, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
Over 400 schools in Bangkok have been ordered to close for five days starting on Wednesday. It’s part of an effort to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Here’s more on the story. The Thai government has stepped up its anti-flu campaign to respond to the country’s 4,000 plus cases of H1N1, including 24 deaths. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration issued an order to close 435 elementary schools. The closure is meant to stop the chain of infection.
H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC
July 17, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
75,000 Brits could die of H1N1
LONDON - HEALTH officials say another 12 people in Britain have died of H1N1 flu and as many as 75,000 people could eventually be killed by the disease. The number is based on estimates that 1 in 3 people will get infected with the virus. But because there is no accurate way of predicting how many people will die from H1N1 flu, the numbers are speculative. Sir Liam Donaldson, Britain’s chief medical officer said the number could be anywhere between 3,000 and 75,000 deaths.
Government promises not to hide any details.
July 16, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
Daily updates on H1N1 flu scrapped
The Public Health Ministry has ended daily updates on the type A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, saying it wants to avoid public confusion. The virus claimed another life yesterday, as a health specialist attributed a recent increase in new infections to better reporting rather than increasing prevalence of H1N1. Disease Control Department director-general ML Somchai Chakrabandhu said new cases of flu, normally reported daily on the Public Health Ministry’s website, http://www.moph.go.th, now will be updated every Wednesday.
Mask of terror pervades city.
July 14, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
H1N1 Flu Watch
People who wear face masks may feel comfortable about protecting themselves from the influenza A (H1N1) virus, but as many are finding there is another risk - discrimination. A woman recently told a traffic radio station she was kicked out of a mini-van after refusing to remove her mask when the driver complained that he feared it would scare off his passengers. Another woman said a vendor asked her to leave his stall because he assumed she was carrying the flu.
Ministry texts message home
July 13, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
Three more fatalities caused by type-A (H1N1) flu virus have been confirmed. The latest deaths bring the country’s death toll from the flu to 18.
Witthaya: Asks drug stores to help
In a bid to stem the spread of the virus, text messages are to be sent to people educating them about flu prevention. Deputy permanent secretary for public health Phaijit Warachit yesterday said the ministry had recorded three more deaths from the flu. He said an autopsy on Saturday on a 45-year-old man in Ayutthaya province found the man died of lung infection caused by the H1N1 virus. The second case was a 24-year-old woman from Ratchaburi who was admitted on July 3 to Siriraj Hospital. She died of an H1N1 infection on Saturday. She was thought to be among the high-risk group. The woman worked as a shop assistant at an internet cafe.
PM backs closing of game shops.
July 9, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
Study schools also may shut as 2 more die of flu
Tutorial schools and online game shops are facing temporary closure to help curb the A (H1N1) virus pandemic, under a Health Ministry proposal given government backing. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva supports the plan, raised at an urgent meeting with influenza experts yesterday to discuss ways to limit the outbreak. Two more Thai deaths from the flu were confirmed yesterday - the victims aged 19 and 21 - amid government concerns that students have emerged as a new group vulnerable to infection. It is not yet necessary to seal the country to control the spread of flu, as recommended by Chulalongkorn Hospital doctors, Mr Abhisit said. There is “no need to close down the country” to try to halt the spread of the virus, he said, and the cabinet will consider more stringent containment measures in public areas when it meets Thursday.
Two more deaths from swine flu
July 1, 2009 by KDSH
Filed under H1N1 Flu Watch
Two more people have died from the effects of A(H1N1) influenza, the Public Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday. The fourth death was a 45-year-old man who was a heavy smoker and drinker, and the fifth victim was a 15-year-old girl who was treated for the virus at Chonburi Hospital.
