400 new Patient in North

Above about 400 new patient.

Over 400 new patients in the northern region of Thailand have been diagnosed as infected with Influenza Type A(H1N1) in only the month of September, the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 10
in Chiang Mai reported on Wednesday.

Following the ongoing spread of the A(H1N1) virus in the eight northern provinces, Dr Saowanee Wiboonsanti, deputy director of the Chiang Mai prevention and control office, confirmed that 437 new patients had contracted the A(H1N1) flu based on laboratory test results last month.

Most new infections were found in Chiang Mai, Lampang and Phayao.

In Chiang Mai, the number of new patients stands at 97 while this year’s cumulative toll has reached 664.

Meanwhile, 157 new cases were reported in Lampang with the 2010 total of 226 patients.

Phayao residents currently suffering from the A(H1N) strain reached 145 while the number of overall patients totalled 271 persons.

Dr Saowanee explained that most new infections, 53 per cent of the new patients, were students, followed by young children.

According to the report, this year’s cumulative number of deaths in the eight northern provinces was 11 which included nine fatalities registered in Chiang Mai.

In response to the current spread of the A(H1N1) flu, local health workers will closely monitor the situation, and common flu patients, as well as educating the public about hygienic measures to prevent the spread of the disease,
Dr Saowanee said.

She also urged high-risk groups to receive anti-A(H1N1) flu shots, aiming to boost immunity against the virus.