H1N1 Scan in Wattai International airport, Vientiane, Laos
Four more A(H1N1) cases confirmed
Four more people have tested positive for A(H1N1) influenza, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Laos to seven.
The four included a Lao man currently studying at a university in New Zealand who returned home for a holiday.
The man entered Laos through Wattay International Airport last week and was tested for the virus after a thermal scanner showed his temperature to be 38.5 degrees Celsius.
The other three are Vientiane schoolboys aged 14 and 15, who had been to Thailand for a sports event. They were part of a group of 10 children and 2 coaches.
Two of the three boys tested positive for the virus in Thailand on June 30 and the third was shown to have the virus in Laos on Friday.
The two who were diagnosed with the virus in Thailand were treated with the influenza drug Tamiflu prior to returning to Laos .
National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordi-nation Office Head Dr Bounlay Phommasack said the health of the three boys was improving.
All of the 10 children who went to Thailand have been told to stay at home while doctors monitor their health.
Dr Bounlay said they would be able to go back to school following confirmation by doctors they were past the contagious stage of the infection.
This would help to avoid any cases of human-to-human transmission.
“This will be a valuable lesson for us as we prepare for the SEA Games at the end of the year,” he said.
The SEA Games is a multi-disciplinary sporting event at which thousands of people from overseas are expected to gather in Vientiane , making it necessary to draw up a detailed plan to respond to the virus.
Dr Bounlay said in some countries, if one competitor was identified with A(H1N1), the entire team would be told to rest and avoid travel and competition.
“We will hold more discussions about our preparations for the SEA Games,” he said.
Dr Bounlay said the cooler months of November to February could present several risks.
In addition to the A(H1N1) threat, a large number of cases of seasonal flu are usually reported at this time. Furthermore, it is possible that avian influenza may resurface.
The authorities were concerned that a convergence of the three strains would enable the virus to mutate into another form.
The most important thing was for all people to know how to protect themselves from the virus, Dr Bounlay said.
These included simple hygiene measures such as covering one's mouth when coughing and regular washing of hands with soap.
Laos confirmed its first case of A(H1N1) on June 16 in a 27-year-old Australian resident.
A 9-year-old American boy and his mother were confirmed as the second and third cases respectively.
The virus has spread to 120 countries globally, with 77,201 cases and 332 deaths, according to a World Health Organisation report on July 1.
it's like economic crisis ,any countries can't escape it, because now any countries on earth are connecting with each other. just wana say that the seagame this yeaaaaaar is not very good time and won't be so crowd as before.
