Human to pig transmission of influenza type A(H1N1) reported in Saraburi

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) – Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has reported a pig being infected with Influenza A(H1N1) from a human in Saraburi.

Dr Paichit Varachit, permanent secretary of public health, said that a pig contracted the H1N1 virus from a Kasetsart University student at the university’s Tapkwan Research Station in Saraburi’s Kaeng Khoi district, about 100 km north of Bangkok.

The student had no clear symptoms, so he was not placed under surveillance and his contact with the pig carried the virus to the animal.

More than 130 farm workers and local residents have been placed under medical observation for seven days. No one has fallen ill so far, according to Dr Paichit, and the pig completely recovered from the disease.

However, there is no report of pig to human transmission so far, he said, adding that pork is safe for consumption and advised cooking pork at at least 60 degrees Celsius with frequent hand washing to prevent contracting the disease.

The Ministry of Public Health reported Wednesday one new fatality from H1N1, bringing the country’s death toll to 190.

In its weekly report on Thailand’s A(H1N1) flu situation December 7 to 13, the public health authorities announced that the new virus victim was a 72-year-old woman.

She was diagnosed with the virus while having a record of diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. (TNA)