PHICHIT - Phichit Hospital confirmed on Wednesday that one of its staff had died after being infected by a still-unidentified type of influenza virus that caused severe symptoms.
Confirmation of the death comes amid a surge in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms, said Wiriya Iewprasert, director of the state-run provincial hospital.
The unnamed staff member had been admitted to the hospital suffering from very severe flu symptoms, Dr Wiriya said. It was the first influenza death this year.
On July 3, the hospital director was asked to respond to media reports a paramedic at Phichit Hospital had died suddenly after suffering a high fever, severe seizure and other flu-like symptoms. He said the hospital could not confirm the cause of death because the family of the dead patient refused permission for a forensic examination to determine the actual cause.
Following the confirmation of the influenza death on Wednesday, the hospital issued a statement stressing the importance of stepping up the screening of patients with flu-like symptoms. They will be housed in a special ward equipped to deal with virulent influenza virus infections, he said.
Hospital staff were also being warned to ensure they are well protected against catching the flu virus at work.
The hospital normally dealt with 100 to 200 patients with flu-like symptoms each day, Dr Wiriya said. Of late, this had risen to 400 to 500 per day.