Nearly 100,000 influenza cases in Thailand

Thailand has reported 91,238 influenza cases over the past two weeks. It is a significant increase from the end of January when only 7819 cases were reported. The total case number is 99,057, and health authorities have also registered nine fatalities. The outbreak is occurring in clusters across several areas and its infection rate is considerably higher than the previous five-year average. Health Zone 9, covering Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Buriram, and Chayiapum, has been particularly hit, with 6938 cases and three deaths. The highest infection rates are among children aged five and nine, followed by those aged three and four.
The Ministry of Public Health is launching a large vaccination campaign to fight the outbreak. 4.5 million doses will be given to high-risk groups including people with chronic illnesses, obese people weighing over 100 kilograms, pregnant women, and children under five. The vaccination campaign is planned by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which will distribute the doses to healthcare facilities. The Ministry also suggested several preventive measures to reduce the spread of the virus, including frequent hand washing with soap and alcohol-based gel, avoiding crowded areas, and staying at home if flu-like symptoms appear.