German tourist dies of suspected A (H1N1) flu in Hua Hin

BANGKOK, May 19 (TNA) - A 59-year-old German woman tourist died in hospital in Thailand’s Hua Hin resort after having flu-like symptoms and being under medical surveillance as a suspected H1N1 case.

The German tourist arrived in Thailand last Tuesday (May 12) with her family and was admitted to Hua Hin hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 370 kilometres south of Bangkok, said Dr. Paichit Varachit, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health.

She was pronounced dead on May 16 and her body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for autopsy to determine if she was infected with Influenza A (H1N1) or not.

The result will be known within 24 hours. Her husband will undergo a medical check-up, but has shown no sign of illness.

Thailand now has 20 flu cases under special surveillance. Of these, two are foreigners.

Meanwhile, two French tourists quarantined at Narathiwat’s Su-ngai Kolok Hospital were allowed to leave hospital Tuesday after their laboratory test results showed no Type A (H1N1) virus.

The French couple entered Thailand via the Su-ngai Kolok border checkpoint on Sunday, both suffering from high fever and flu-like symptoms and were put under observation at Su-ngai Kolok Hospital.

Hospital Director Doctor Noppodol Mitchai said that the facility stepped up screening measures at the nearby border crossing checkpoint to prevent an influenza Type A outbreak, although the deadly virus strain has not otherwise been found in the area.

Earlier, Thailand reported two H1N1 infections, both persons having travelled from affected areas, but both had fully recovered. (TNA)