German tourist did not have A (H1N1): Health Ministry

BANGKOK, May 19 (TNA) – Thailand’s Public Health Ministry on Tuesday announced that a German woman tourist who died in hospital in the coastal resort of Hua Hin after having flu-like symptoms had not contracted the deadly influenza type A (H1N1), but had succumbed to common flu and pneumonia.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi revealed that initial laboratory tests conducted by the Department of Medical Sciences showed negative results for the German tourist.

Mr. Manit said that the German patient died of pneumonia and common flu.

Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Paichit Varachit of the Ministry of Public Health, said that the German patient had a congenital disease and had regularly taken a prescription medication for one year. The German embassy in Thailand has already been officially informed of her death.

‘We must wait for three or four days for official confirmation of the cause of her death as pneumonia has many types of symptoms which could lead to death. But initially she did not contract the H1N1.’, Dr. Paichit reaffirmed.

The 65-year-old German tourist arrived in Thailand last Tuesday with her family and was admitted to Hua Hin hospital during the weekend after having flu-like symptoms and was pronounced dead Monday night.

The ministry announced on May 12 that two Thai citizens who had been in Mexico had contracted H1N1 flu but both had recovered. (TNA)