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It is not bird flu as first feared, but the illness that has stricken 15 soldiers in Uttaradit and put another 125 under observation was thought serious enough to close an army hospital to all outside patients.

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Medical staff closely monitor soldiers being treated for an acute lung infection at the Phraya Phichai Dabhak Army Camp Hospital in Uttaradit yesterday. BOONNUM KERDKAEW

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Illness not bird flu, army says

It is not bird flu as first feared, but the illness that has strickened 15 soldiers in Uttaradit and put another 125 under observation was thought serious enough to close an army hospital to all outside patients.

The Phraya Phichai Dabhak Army Camp Hospital where the soldiers were being treated was put under quarantine after the 15 soldiers contracted a lung infection.

Hospital director Col Kuldanai Supim said the hospital is expected to reopen today, however, as the 15 affected soldiers had recovered steadily while test results showed the 125 others had not contracted the disease.

Several of the recovering soldiers are clearly feeling much better. BOONNUM KERDKAEW

Col Ram Rangsin, an epidemiologist attached to the army, said laboratory tests on the ill soldiers showed that the infection was caused by mycoplasma – a bacteria that can be contracted through sneezing or coughing or close contact with infected people.

Thailand already has a medicine – clarithromycin – for treatment of the disease, Col Ram said.

The doctor added the soldiers had not contracted any severe acute respiratory diseases such as bird flu, as had been feared and rumoured, he said.

The first case detected was that of Pvt Kittirat Meeplong, a native of Tron district. He was diagnosed with the illness on May 29.

A day later, three more army privates at the camp came down with the flu-like symptoms.

The soldiers had a high fever, sore throat and cough.

The Royal Thai Army Medical Department ordered 140 troopers and their trainers examined. It found that 15 of them had contracted the disease.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post.

monitor – keep track of; keep a close watch on ตรวจ, ติดตาม, เฝ้าสังเกต
acute – very serious or severe หนัก, รุนแรง
lung – one of the two organs in your chest that fill with air when you breathe ปอด
infection – a disease or medical condition that is caused by a bacteria or by a virus or a parasite การติดเชื้อ
feared – to feel worried and afraid that something bad will happen or has already happened กลัว, ตระหนกตกใจ, เกรงกลัว, หวาดหวั่น
stricken – affected by serious problems such as injury or illnessได้รับผลกระทบจากปัญหาหนักหน่วง
observation – the process of watching someone or something carefully, in order to find something out การสังเกต
patient – someone who is receiving medical treatment คนป่วย, คนไข้
treat – to provide medical care รักษา
quarantine – a situation in which a person or animal that might have a disease is kept separate from other people or animals so that they do not catch the disease กักบริเวณ จำกัดบริเวณ
contract – to become infected with a disease ติดเชื้อ
recover – to become healthy and fit again after an illness or injury การฟื้นไข้
steadily – gradually and in an even and regular way อย่างต่อเนื่อง, อย่างแน่วแน่
epidemiologist  –  a scientist who studies the spread and control of diseases นักระบาดวิทยา (an epidemic is a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the same time in a particular community)
laboratory – a room or building used for scientific research, experiments, testing, etc  ห้องปฏิบัติการ, ห้องทดลอง
sneeze – to loudly blow air out of your nose in a sudden uncontrolled way จาม
cough – to force air up through your throat with a sudden noise, especially when you have a cold  ไอ
contact – a situation in which people or things touch each other or are very near each other การสัมผัส
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง
respiratory – involving breathing เกี่ยวกับการหายใจ
rumour – a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true ข่าวลือ
detect – to find or prove that something is present using scientific methods พบ
native – someone who was born in a particular place ชาวพื้นเมือง
diagnose – to find out what physical or mental problem someone has by examining them วินิจฉัย,ตรวจโรค
private – the lowest rank of soldier in the army พลทหาร
symptom – a sign that someone has an illness อาการ
fever – an abnormally high body temperature ไข้
sore throat – a pain at the back of your mouth เจ็บคอ
trooper – someone of low rank in the army who fights on a horse or in an armoured vehicle พลทหารม้า

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