H1N1 swine flu outbreak finally hits Koh Phangan Full Moon Party Island!
Since weeks we have received dramatic reports of swine flu (H1N1) outbreaks all over the planet. Now, the pan epidemic swine flu virus has finally hit the paradise full moon island Koh Phangan as well.
Last week during a visit to the local hospital on Koh Phangan I was quite shocked of the amount of local Thai people waiting around the hospital. There where around 200 to 300 Thai people awaiting the nurses to take a closer look at them.
Astonishing by this big crowed I was curios and asked around what might have happened here. After a few talks with some local Thais and also nurses I found out that a few kids at a local Koh Phangan school got infected by the H1N1 swine flu virus.
After temporarily shutting down the local school, Koh Phangan district authorities asked the kids, attending that specific school, and their family members to come to the hospital to be tested for the H1N1 virus.
Positive tested swine flu patients were then asked to stay at home to help control the spreading of the H1N1 swine flu virus. The official number of swine flu infected people on Koh Phangan Island has varied from 8 to 80 persons, according to senior health island officials.
Do we have to run now or avoid Koh Phangan Island as our holiday destination?
Most likely not! So far there have only been less than 70 fatalities caused by the swine flu virus (H1N1) in Thailand. It is more likely that you get killed by a crazy drunk taxi car driver, one of those gun or knife swinging farangs haters or by one of the jealous lady bar Thai girlfriends.
The truth is that worldwide less than 2000 people have died from the swine flu so far. That’s less people dying every day from not having enough food! Most of the people died from the H1N1 virus had other diseases and where weakened before they got it.
Good luck to all of you and don’t forget to wear your protection masks 😉
gecko flu……….coming soon!
just been to gov hospital after fmp and everyone wearing masks… which is good! About 100 thais waiting. BUT let us all remember that the world has it, not just the island of madness!
Anyone know the H1N1 situation in Phangan now?
Swine-flu infections in Phangan up
By CA
Monday, 05 October 2009 16:57
The public health office in Suratthani has listed Koh Phangan as number one of the various districts in the province with confirmed swine-flu infections in terms of ratio. Provincial public health chief Dr. Nattawuth Prasertsiriphong said that as of Sept. 21, the island had eight people confirmed infected. The ratio they use, he said, is number of infected people per 100,000 population.
Based on this ratio, according to him, Koh Phangan is number one, followed by Donsak, Downtown, Vinag-sra and Kiriratnikom districts.
The swine-flu epidemic first reached Koh Phangan last month with six people confirmed infected.
Dr. Nattawuth attributed the high rate of infection on Koh Phangan to the presence of many foreign tourists on the island and the lack of preventive measures in place.
He said most of those infected on the island belong to the 10-14 years old age group. They comprise 31.96 percent of all H1N1 patients. They are followed by those in the 15-24 years old bracket at17.07 percent.
Although there is less media attention now on swine flu, Dr. Nattawuth asks people in the province not to lower their guard against the disease. — CA