Influen A (H1N1) to infect many more people during next two months

BANGKOK, 23 July 2009 (NNT) – Many more people will be infected Influenza A (H1N1) in the next two months, while the virus may mutate by crossing strain, according to health academics.

President of Influenza Foundation Thailand (IFT) Professor Doctor.Prasert Thongjaroen as the Chairman of the Consultant Sub-Committee of the Public Health Ministry revealed that during the next two months, Thailand would have many more Influenza A (H1N1) infection cases or it would become an uptrend, which was the nature of the epidemic.

He pointed out that the current death toll at 44 people was considered normal level compared to the death toll from seasonal influenza at an average 400 per year or 1-2 people per day. If the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak continued for two to three months longer, the death toll might rise to 90 people, which was not a surprising figure.

However according to the theory it is possible to have virus mutation by crossing strains among the viruses in swine, human and bird, but whether the crossed strain mutation will be serious or not is difficult to predict, therefore people should not be overly concerned.