MORE than 20,000 people on Phuket have been treated for the H1N1 flu, Dr Pongsawat Rattanasang, Director of Public Health on the island, said today, with two deaths reported so far.
He added that thermo-scanners were no longer in use at the airport or for arriving cruise ship passengers ''because now it is widespread in Thailand and the world.''
While cases of people with the virus were continuing to grow, with hundreds still visiting the special centres at public hospitals, the rate of numbers diagnosed showed enormous variations, he said.
There have been two deaths so far. The first, widely reported, was of a 19-year-old student from Prince of Songkla University.
The second, reported for the first time today, was of a 36-year-old cement truck driver, who died on July 23 at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
The man first arrived at the hospital about 3am that morning and was given some medicine. He came back hours later and died within minutes of his return to the hospital.
The man had chronic health problems and was a heavy drinker, Dr Pongsawat said. People with pre-existing conditions are the most likely victims.
Authorities throughout Thailand are now updating the toll just once a week, with deaths throughout the country at 60 so far.
There have been 206 confirmed cases on Phuket where H1N1 sufferers have required hospital treatment, with nine as inpatients around the island at present.
''Closing schools, bars, internet cafes and other public places would serve no purpose,'' Dr Pongsawat said.
''We have Tamiflu treatment for 1800 people if required, so we are well prepared if, for some reason, the virus suddenly strikes down large numbers.''
The campaign to educate people about the virus will be taken to the Burmese work camps from tomorrow with health workers handing out brochures in the Burmese language.
On other health issues, Dr Pongsawat said HIV was relatively high on Phuket because of the statistical anomaly caused by the low number of registered citizens compared to the high actual population.
While concern continued because of the number of sex workers and bars and the island's nightlife, it was not exceptionally high.
Abortions, he said were a daily occurrence among teenage mothers on the island, indicating more sex education was urgently required.
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He added that thermo-scanners were no longer in use at the airport or for arriving cruise ship passengers ''because now it is widespread in Thailand and the world.''
While cases of people with the virus were continuing to grow, with hundreds still visiting the special centres at public hospitals, the rate of numbers diagnosed showed enormous variations, he said.
There have been two deaths so far. The first, widely reported, was of a 19-year-old student from Prince of Songkla University.
The second, reported for the first time today, was of a 36-year-old cement truck driver, who died on July 23 at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
The man first arrived at the hospital about 3am that morning and was given some medicine. He came back hours later and died within minutes of his return to the hospital.
The man had chronic health problems and was a heavy drinker, Dr Pongsawat said. People with pre-existing conditions are the most likely victims.
Authorities throughout Thailand are now updating the toll just once a week, with deaths throughout the country at 60 so far.
There have been 206 confirmed cases on Phuket where H1N1 sufferers have required hospital treatment, with nine as inpatients around the island at present.
''Closing schools, bars, internet cafes and other public places would serve no purpose,'' Dr Pongsawat said.
''We have Tamiflu treatment for 1800 people if required, so we are well prepared if, for some reason, the virus suddenly strikes down large numbers.''
The campaign to educate people about the virus will be taken to the Burmese work camps from tomorrow with health workers handing out brochures in the Burmese language.
On other health issues, Dr Pongsawat said HIV was relatively high on Phuket because of the statistical anomaly caused by the low number of registered citizens compared to the high actual population.
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Abortions, he said were a daily occurrence among teenage mothers on the island, indicating more sex education was urgently required.
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