The Ministry of Public Health confirmed 113 new cases of Influenza A(H1N1) on Thursday morning, bringing the country's total number of H1N1 patients to 518 since April 28.
The Bureau of Epidemiology under the Public Health Ministry reported that 1,098 patients with flu symptoms were being closely watched by health authorities. Most of the cases were students and their parents.
Bangkok had the most H1N1 cases at 318, followed by Nonthaburi at 66, Pathum Thani 58, Chon Buri 29, and Samut Prakan 21.
Phuket and Samut Sakhon each had four H1N1 patients. Nakhon Pathom had three. Chiang Mai, Trang, Roi Et, Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri each had two cases while Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Lop Buri, Songkhla, Saraburi had one each.
Sixty schools in 18 provinces reported cases and had closed indefinitely.
However, Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the outbreak was not severe as many expected.
He said the anti-viral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) would only be given to children under five years old, elderly people over 65 and people with congenital diseases.
The ministry will distribute public health booklets about ways to protect against swine flu to people at MBK shopping mall, Siam Square and the Victory Monument.
The Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) predicted the outbreak of the A(H1N1) flu virus will cause a drop in Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) of 0.1 to 0.3 per cent this year.
However, the impact of the outbreak would not be as severe as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) in 2003.
The leading think-tank expected this year's GDP would see a negative growth of 3.5 to 6.0 per cent.
The tourism industry would be most affected, followed by trade and entertainment businesses.
The KRC believed the economy had passed its lowest point when the GDP fell 7.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, but there were still many risk factors, such as the rapid spread of the A (H1N1) virus.
The researchers said the swine flu outbreak may affect the behaviours of both consumers and tourists, as more people would try to avoid congested areas.
Many foreign tourists, especially those from Taiwan, may decide not to visit Thailand because of the flu outbreak, while local tourists may also avoid travelling at the moment.
Other affected businesses would be shopping malls, movie theatres, entertainment venues and public transport services.
The KRC said the economy would lose between nine billion and 28 billion baht as a result of the flu outbreak, and 65 per cent of that would be in the tourism sector.
The think-tank also suggested that the government ensure it is transparent when revealing the H1N1 flu figures.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
