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Thai capital to close 435 schools to halt flu spread

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-14 21:25

BANGKOK: The Thai capital will close 435 schools for five days to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Thailand has reported 4,057 cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, since mid-May and 24 deaths from the virus, 10 of them from Bangkok.

Full coverage:  WHO Declares Flu Pandemic Related readings:  Thailand reports three more H1N1 flu deaths  Thailand reports 231 new A(H1N1) cases  Spike in flu cases prompts Thailand to shut schools  Swine flu can jump from us to them  Death toll from A(H1N1) flu reaches 337 worldwide: WHO

"We will conduct a thorough cleaning of the schools during the closure to prevent further outbreaks here," Ponksak Semsan, permanent secretary-general of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said in a statement, announcing the closure from Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday that the H1N1 virus was "unstoppable" and gave drug makers full go-ahead to manufacture vaccines.

The WHO raised the global flu alert to the highest level on June 11, declaring a pandemic was under way from the H1N1 strain.

Although the new disease has so far caused only mild symptoms in most patients, more than 400 people have died globally and experts fear the death toll could surge without a widespread immunisation programme.

Thailand's government agreed during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to place an order for two million doses of a vaccine for H1N1, with delivery expected by December.