Ubon Ratchathani: A primary school in Khemarat district yesterday suspended classes for two days after 200 of its students came down with influenza.
Headmaster Prayad Boonpor said yesterday he ordered the school to shut down after Khemarat Hospital, where the students were taken for treatment, confirmed they had contracted the flu. The infected students are from different grades. The closure has allowed the school to clean the classrooms, teachers' offices, toilets and the canteen.
The Department of Disease Control said influenza killed one person and infected 16,348 others nationwide from Jan 1-20.
Dr Suwannachai Watthanayingcharoen, the department director-general, said he expected a rise in the number of flu cases as provinces are gripped by the cold spell.
Infants and the elderly are especially vulnerable to flu symptoms, which include high fever and muscle aches.