Impact of Swine Flu in Thailand

Reaction

- According to the lack of preparedness against the flu's transmission among immigration police at Suvarnabhumi airport, it could take a risk to be there and also could hamper control of the virus from spreading into Thailand.

- The situation is quite relax due to the heads UN and WHO say there are no imminent plans to raise the pandemic level of swine flu to its highest alert. This could be implied that they’re trying to control the spread of disease enthusiastically.

- It seems to be more sure and feel fine to consume the products which made from pork because human H1N1 infections are not likely to come from pigs directly and that no pigs in the US have been detected with Influenza A (H1N1) virus, the variety of the virus found in human cases.

- I agree that they will not only publish the prevention guidelines handbooks in hard copy, but also publish in online version which would be beneficial for whom usually spend their time in front of computer. Moreover, the preparedness of prevent will be stronger.

- The regional meeting in Thailand is aimed to prevent the influenza outbreak in the region and also prepare to transfer technology in producing vaccines to ASEAN countries and to supply the antivirus drug. Therefore, it could ensure Thais about security of their life.

Conclusion

A regional meeting in Bangkok on Influenza A (H1N1) was set to seek effective measures to fight the threat of the new virus amid tightened medical security on 7th May. Firstly, the Health Ministry has launched an education campaign on swine flu and will provide the handbooks which contain the prevention guidelines.

So far, they have about 1,003 confirmed cases who were infected in 20 countries. In Mexico, 44 people were killed, including two in the US. According to the weak surveillance at the Suvarnabhumi airport, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said that he warned them earlier to be more careful but prevention measures are still lacking because immigration officials asked travelers to take off their masks to check their identities but the officials themselves did not wear any protective gear.

The heads of the United Nations and The World Health Organization (WHO) said there are no imminent plans to raise the pandemic level of swine flu to its highest alert, level 6. It also has a chance to reach at that level, however; the vaccine would be published in time.

Thai Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai met Chen Zhu, his Chinese counterpart. He said China sees regional cooperation as being important and he is prepared to transfer technology in producing vaccines to ASEAN countries and to supply the antiviral drug oseltamivir (drug that is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B infection) if a pandemic occurs.