Woman flu victim 'critical'

News » Local News

H1N1

Woman flu victim 'critical'

Published: 23/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Doctors are keeping close watch on a 57-year-old woman whose condition has deteriorated quickly after contracting the A (H1N1) flu.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai yesterday said the patient had contracted pneumonia and her condition was critical.

The woman, who is being treated at a private hospital in the Thon Buri area, could not breathe by herself and had to rely on a respirator, the minister said.

He dismissed speculation that the case indicated an increase in the severity of the H1N1 outbreak in Thailand.

"Having a serious case of H1N1 does not mean the outbreak has become more severe," said Mr Witthaya, whose ministry has been trying to contain the spread of H1N1 to retain the country's zero-fatality status.

"Of 14 patients being treated at hospitals at the moment, this woman is the only critical case."

Experienced doctors, including some from Siriraj Hospital, have teamed up to assist doctors at the private hospital to treat the woman.

See also: Flu cases surge, woman dies in Philippines.

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Share your thoughts

For more candid, lengthy, conversational and open discussion between one another, use our Forum

Report objectionable comments click here. Include: discussion #, commenter name, comment date / time as it looks on the page. Example: discussion 15: 09/01/2009 at 10:00 AM.

unknown

Discussion 2 : 23/06/2009 at 04:22 PM2
The government is not doing enough to reinforce prevention of the virus spreading. First they tell us we're just over-reacting, but seriously, Do you think you should be serious until the number of people infected reaches over 1000's? or maybe until someone is dead?
Second, with all the news saying that people are being treated, I'm not sure about this info since I'm pretty much sure that the government or the health ministry does not want to make it a big deal. They are just only saying things to make everyone calm, but the truth is, everyone, everybody should now take extreme attention on their own health. You can't really trust the government or the health ministry's words about this. We are the ones who have to take care of this ourselves. They could show that they are trying to do something, but that could be just only for the good appearance out of it.
Thirdly, since the government and the health ministry are constantly saying that they are making improvements to deal with the virus, why are there still people getting infected and much worse everyday? Shouldn't there be any explanation from the fact how the government and health ministry are trying to find ways to contain the virus? They could argue that people should look after themselves, but that is just an excuse of pushing the blame back to the people themselves. They are the ones who have to do the job to contain the virus.
I don't think the government or the health ministry is doing enough to really help the people from the virus. They are still using "Jai Yen" as the word to make the paranoid people look foolish among themselves. I think this can no longer be used..since the government and health ministry doesn't really give much care about people's health. Only the people ourselves, are the ones who are doing what we can to prevent ourselves from the infection.

The efforts of the health ministry and government are a let down...
jaz in chumphon

Discussion 1 : 23/06/2009 at 11:33 AM1
I hope we will not wait until the Virus is all over the country before we act to stop it. Schools, markets, and food stall should carefully enforce strict sanitation.

In our province the people turn a blind eye over the Virus scare. I wish that precautionary measures should be taken.

And more swab test labs should be setup to make sure that we can contained the flu virus from spreading.

Woman flu victim 'critical'