Comments on: Thai Swine Flu Irresistance

By: Mariyah

Mariyah — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:46:39 +0000

Most likely the pollution problem, adversely affecting people’s immune system.

By: eman

eman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:04:14 +0000

Thanx tum | bler, thats pretty comprehensive information. They might even know where to find those N95s in Thailand …

I still don’t understand what all the hoopla is as many contradictions prevail, many of them stemming from WHO itself.

By: tum|bler

tum|bler — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:18:18 +0000

@eman

Here’s a site providing comprehensive information on the flu, including how effective each type of masks is in preventing the spread.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm

By: Leosia

Leosia — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:19:58 +0000

My feeling is there could be two reasons why the rate of infection is so high in Thailand.

Firstly, pollution in Bangkok is so bad; Thailand, and it’s cities in particular, must be the filthiest country in SE Asia. Admittedly I don’t know if this affects the transmission of the virus.

Secondly, the practice of hospitals ripping people off by forcing them to test for the H1N1 virus before confirming if they have ordinary flu symptoms is discouraging people from going to the doctor. If they are reluctant to go and see a doctor and continue to go to work or mix in public the virus continues to spread rapidly.

By: eman

eman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:03:46 +0000

Saving face behind the wrong mask. I heard a report that the only masks that protect from flu-carrying droplets are known as N95, and they are not available in Thailand. Can anyone confirm?

By: Jaded

Jaded — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:17:41 +0000

I assume that the acutal figures are very high but as with avian flu in 2004 we will never know (that was Newin btw). I can tell you that from my own experience a month ago its likely that certain hospitals at least have a real reluctance label flu like symptoms as actual flu. I have to be careful what I say here but from recent conversation with a Thai medical couple who run their own well known clinic I was left in little doubt that stated govenment policy has very little to do with real measures to detect and contain the flu. There may be a bright side to this though. In the long run the measures taken by hospitals and probably by the government to understate the problem may not be a bad thing. In previous serious influenza epidemics the second wave of mutated virus was more lethal than the first. However contracting the first wave gave immunity. Once you’ve had it you will have immunity to the potentially far more lethal second wave so … Get on down to Pattaya and party?