absolutelyBangkok archive · Health, body & mind
Originally published July 9, 2009
The global death toll of swine flu is still a mere nothing compared to the death toll of common flu — or road accidents in the case of Thailand. Nevertheless, some resistance to Tamiflu has been identified and Thailand tops Asia’s swine flu death list.
Well, official China still hasn’t reported a single death, one may sense a cover-up. Thailand though by July 09, 2009, has reached a death toll of 14. That’s 3 more in a day. Why is that? Despite all of Thailand’s well publicized attempts to prevent the spread of another potential nail in the kingdom’s coffin?
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meanwhile even considered to lock down the country. Sealing the borders was recommended by Chulalongkorn Hospital doctors. Not yet necessary, says Abhisit. But we have to prevent people from approximating each other too much.
Remember, Pattaya, where people seem to approximate each other above-average, was Thailand’s first swine flu hotbed. Visitors from Taiwan practically single-handedly imported the virus from Pattaya back to their homeland.
The Thai government is considering the closure of tutorial schools and online game shops — well, you could as well lock down the whole place.
Again, Thailand is not Asia’s main transport hub. There are far fewer visitors than a year ago. But Thailand manages to top Asia’s swine flu deaths. While even the prime minister admits that the official death toll is quite higher than reported.
Are Thais just less resistant? What makes it easier for the virus to spread around here? Or is Thailand overeagerly reporting, while other countries prefer a less transparent approach to not scare off people?
Again, for most infected people the swine flu means a light fever nothing much to worry about. Furthermore, the victims so far seemed to have a weaker immune system.
Still, magnet-like, Thailand seems to attract whatever inflicts even more pain.
FYI: Thai
Ministry of Public Health
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