The number of A(H1N1) influenza cases in Thailand had risen to 310 after 109 new cases were reported on Tuesday, health permanent secretary Prat Boonyavongvirot said.
Dr Prat said the Ministry of Public Health would now hold a press conference on the H1N1 outbreak every day about 11am, but only confirmed cases woud be reported.
He expected the number of cases to increase, but said it was not unusual since other countries reported the same problem.
More than 35,000 people in 76 countries have been infected and 163 people had died from the disease, he said.
He said the virus could pose a higher risk to children under five years old, pregnant women, the elderly and people with low immunity or chronic illnesses such as lung, heart and liver diseases.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said more than 400 physicians from the private and public sectors will meet and discuss ways to handle the outbreak on Monday at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel.
He said the Public Health Ministry was not trying to conceal any information about the rising number of H1N1 flu cases, just ensure the inforfmation was correct.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the ministry would not stop reporting the number of A(H1N1) influenza cases, since it would serve no purpose.
"I talked to Public Health Minister Witthaya about this matter. He said the ministry will not stop reporting flu cases.
''However, only the number of confirmed cases will be reported to prevent confusion," he said.
Mr Abhisit was responding to a report that public health officials had been told not the speak to the media about the flu cases in their areas.
He did not think Thailand would have to restrict travel across the border, even if if the pandemic alert is raised another notch to level C.
Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the ministry will distribute one million booklets on ways people could protect themselves against the pandemic virus to provinces nationwide.
Former deputy health minister Wicharn Minchainant called on the government and the Public Health Ministry to come up with a clear-cut policy for dealing with the disease.
Any suggestion that authorities were trying to cover up information on the extent of the flu outbreak could have long-ranging implications, the opposition Puea Thai MP said.
The state must disclose all information about areas where 2009 swine flu infections occurred so health authorities could quickly eradicate the virus.
Mr Wicharn warned that concealing information could make the World Health Organisation distrust the country’s capability of dealing with the outbreak.
This could deter foreign tourists and businessmen from visiting Thailand.
He was responding to claims that health officials had refrained from reporting the real number of swine flu cases and where the patients had been infected with the virus.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
