Thailand, AH1N1 may have hit half a million Thais
24 of the 65 who died received delayed care
Number of flu deaths and reported infections has risen to 65 and 8,877 respectively - but, in an alarming development, health authorities are estimating that more than half a million people might have contracted the type-A (H1N1) virus.
A 2009 UV air purifier, made by the Chest Disease Institute for use in containing th
e spread of influenza type-A (H1N1), is shown at the institute yesterday. THITI WONNAMONTHAAmong those who have died, 41 suffered from health complications such as heart and blood vessel diseases, cancer, diabetes and kidney failure, three women were pregnant and some others were obese.
The other 24 fatalities did not have health complaints, but received delayed medical treatment, deputy permanent secretary for public health Paijit Warachit said.
Doctors have asked the relatives of casualties for permission to carry out post-mortem examinations. An in-depth study would help experts understand the cause of death among the influenza fatalities and how the virus harmed human health, Dr Paijit said.
He said the antiviral drug oseltamivir, regarded as the most effective tool against the virus, would be supplied to clinics joining a programme to hasten treatment and reduce the number of deaths.
A subcommittee on health strategy on the pandemic has issued guidelines to monitor the use of antiviral drugs at clinics for the ministry to put into practice.
An estimated 7,000 state and private clinics have been set up across the country. However not all would meet ministerial requirements. Virologist Prasert Thongcharoen, the subcommittee chairman, said only doctors a
t clinics were able to prescribe antiviral drugs and they would have to be trained and pass the ministry's evaluation before being allowed to prescribe the medicine.
A 2009 UV air purifier, made by the Chest Disease Institute for use in containing th
e spread of influenza type-A (H1N1), is shown at the institute yesterday. THITI WONNAMONTHAAmong those who have died, 41 suffered from health complications such as heart and blood vessel diseases, cancer, diabetes and kidney failure, three women were pregnant and some others were obese.The other 24 fatalities did not have health complaints, but received delayed medical treatment, deputy permanent secretary for public health Paijit Warachit said.
Doctors have asked the relatives of casualties for permission to carry out post-mortem examinations. An in-depth study would help experts understand the cause of death among the influenza fatalities and how the virus harmed human health, Dr Paijit said.
He said the antiviral drug oseltamivir, regarded as the most effective tool against the virus, would be supplied to clinics joining a programme to hasten treatment and reduce the number of deaths.
A subcommittee on health strategy on the pandemic has issued guidelines to monitor the use of antiviral drugs at clinics for the ministry to put into practice.
An estimated 7,000 state and private clinics have been set up across the country. However not all would meet ministerial requirements. Virologist Prasert Thongcharoen, the subcommittee chairman, said only doctors a
t clinics were able to prescribe antiviral drugs and they would have to be trained and pass the ministry's evaluation before being allowed to prescribe the medicine. Clinics must report every patient experiencing drug side-effects to the Public Health Ministry. The clinics must be equipped with sterilised rooms and have a post-treatment monitoring system. Provincial public health authorities would have to monitor treatment standards, prescriptions and sterilised rooms at clinics joining the programme every month. The clinics would have to follow the standards issued by the Public Health Ministry, he said.
"The panel members believed the guidelines would help provincial health chiefs screen the qualifications of private and state clinics distributing the anti-flu tablets. "They should also minimise possible drug resistance among those contracting the influenza type-A (H1N1)," Dr Prasert said. The virologist called on policy-makers to consult flu experts before rushing to make crucial decisions which could damage the national health strategy on the flu pandemic. (Quoted from Bangkok Post)
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