The Ministry of Public Health has collaborated with Airports of Thailand to closely monitor passengers with flu-like symptoms and strictly monitor those coming from countries affected by the disease.
Thermal scanners have been installed at the country’s main airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport and Samui Airport. The device will beep upon detecting anyone with a body temperature above 37 degrees Celsius passing through the gates. Each gate can scan a large group at a time.
Anyone found with a fever would be questioned by health officials about the history of their illness. Suspected cases will be under close surveillance for three to five days during their stay in Thailand.
The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has a stockpile of 170,000 tablets of the antiviral drug, Oseltamivir, which is enough to treat 17,000 patients. In case of an outbreak, the GPO has the capacity to produce a million pills of the medicine within four days.
Although there has been no reports of the new flu virus in Thailand, the GPO has embarked on the production of additional batches of Oseltamivir in response to WHO raising the level of the influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5. This raises the supply of the antiviral drug from 3.2 to 4.2 million tablets, enough for 420,000 patients.
The Livestock Development Department has set up a war room to monitor the outbreak and come up with necessary measures to protect people and pig farms from the deadly virus meanwhile suggesting pig farmers separate pigs from other farm animals, especially fowl, to prevent possible virus mutation.
The Thai government, with the active support of health authorities and mass media channels, has launched a public awareness campaign to educate the general public about taking preventive measures to avoid contracting the influenza A (H1N1) virus.
WHO Influenza A (H1N1) - Update 6 dated 30 April 2009
WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.
There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.
