Thailand Faces Double Epidemic of Influenza and COVID-19

dreaded! Thailand encounters a double epidemic of influenza The Department of Disease Control requests high-risk groups to receive combined vaccination.

Today (19 April 2023) Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn Deputy Director General Department of Disease Control The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) discussed the forecast of influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks this year, saying that this year there is a high probability that an outbreak of influenza will occur along with COVID-19. Because around the world, more and more influenza outbreaks have been found.

“Two years ago, with COVID-19, travel was reduced. But this year there was more travel. There is a chance to find more outbreaks. At the same time, Thailand has already begun to experience an outbreak of influenza. considered faster than usual, which often spread during the rainy season It is expected that the outbreak will cause more cases than in the year before the outbreak of COVID-19. Tens of thousands of cases may be found, so it is important that the 608 risk group should be vaccinated against both diseases, which in May. The Ministry of Public Health will have a campaign on this issue, however, for the general public who want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The government also provides them for free. As for the influenza vaccine from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), 4 million doses have been prepared for injection in risk groups, ”said Dr. Sophon.

Reporters reported that The Department of Disease Control has reported data on influenza patients from January 1 to April 1, 2023, with reports of 38,291 cases, with a sickness rate of 57.87 per hundred thousand population. There was one death reported in Songkhla Province, morbidity rate of 0.003, caused by influenza A/H1N1 virus.
while the number of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized from January 1 to April 15, 2023, there were 5,4823 reports, 273 accumulated deaths

“For groups at risk of influenza It was found in the age group of 0-4 years equal to 282.04 per hundred thousand population, followed by the age group of 5-14 years at 219.73 per hundred thousand population and the age group of 15-24 years at 40.18 per hundred thousand population. The top 10 provinces with the highest morbidity rate were Phayao, with a morbidity rate of 209.21 per hundred thousand people, followed by Phrae 205.67 per hundred thousand people, Phatthalung 191.23 per hundred thousand people, Ubon Ratchathani 169.99 per hundred thousand people, Chiang Mai 133.35 per hundred thousand people, Phuket 125.14 per population. hundred thousand people Nakhon Si Thammarat 99.59 per hundred thousand population Nan 98.43 per hundred thousand population Bangkok 97.13 per hundred thousand people and Mukdahan 96.58 per hundred thousand people, ”said Dr. Sophon.