The two most recent cases of avian influenza in Thailand may be due to human-to-human transmission, a Thai Health Ministry official stated.
 |
Culling Infected Poultry |
Dr. Charoen Chuchottaworn, an avian influenza expert from the Thai Ministry of Health, stated that doctors reached this conclusion after reviewing the medical history of the two recent avian influenza cases, both of whom exhibited unclear flu-like symptoms and had no contact with birds or poultry.
One of the victims is a boy in Bangkok, while the other is an 18-year-old young man from Nonthaburi province, according to today’s issue of the Nation.
Doctors have found no clues as to how the patients contracted the H5N1 virus. This also indicates that avian influenza has transmitted from severely infected individuals to those with milder infections.
Dr. Charoen stated that the milder symptoms of avian influenza make diagnosis more challenging for doctors, highlighting the need for laboratories to be equipped with more advanced technology to confirm cases and to decide whether patients should be treated with Tamiflu. He also mentioned that this means avian influenza could now present without symptoms.
According to Charoen, Thailand currently lacks resources to combat H5N1. The country has approximately 1 million Tamiflu pills, sufficient to treat 100,000 people, whereas estimates suggest that about 120 million pills are needed.
Thailand has identified 7 avian influenza patients upon their arrival at hospitals for treatment; however, doctors believe there are many more cases with unclear symptoms of the disease.
TUONG VY (According to Xinhua)
