Thailand Confirmed

Authorities confirmed on Saturday that a woman and a man have died in the past week from A(H1N1) flu, the country's first victims - while Australia (photo) recorded its fifth flu fatality.A 40-year-old Thai woman died June 20 at a Bangkok hospital, while a 42-year-old Thai man died Saturday at a hospital in Chon Buri province, Public Health Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr Paichai Warachit said. It appeared that she meant Pattaya, which is in Chon Buri.

Paichai said her office was only told late Friday about the woman's death. It was unclear where the two contracted the virus, and the ministry refused to identify them. "It is confirmed that the two patients died because of the H1N1 virus and also because they had pneumonia." Dr Paichai said.

She said she did not know why news of the initial victim had been withheld. The Public Health Ministry refused to say why it had covered up the news of the first victim. Authorities had announced all week that that the only Thai suffering from a serious case of the flu had recovered. That statement now appears to be inoperative.

The government, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has repeatedly denied that it has censored news of the flu outbreak. But the public health ministry admitted that it withheld initial news of the flu so that the public would not panic. Officials have repeatedly underplayed and withheld news of the disease.

The Public Health Ministry said more than 1,200 people have contracted swine flu as of Saturday, including seven Navy cadets. Most have recovered, though 16 remain in the hospital. None was in critical condition - at least according to ministry officials. Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Saturday that the public should not panic. It was not clear why he felt there was a chance of panic. "Authorities are taking all measures to contain the virus," which first hit the country six weeks ago, the minister claimed.

Source : Bangkok Post
Photo : Daylife.com