The Public Health Ministry of Bangkok had as of yesterday cleared the three people who had earlier been suspected of having contracting the deadly H5N1 virus from the bird flu watch-list, explaining that they were simply suffering from common flu.
Confirming that the three patients who were earlier suspected of having bird flu were suffering from influenza, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said that the latest lab reports had confirmed that the three patients, two children aged 7 and 12, and a 32-year-old woman, were not infected by bird flu and had been discharged from quarantine.Paijit Warachit, the Director General of the Department of Medical Sciences, also said that the lab test had not found any viral mutation and there were no signs of drug resistance. He further added that the department would soon be launching two mobile laboratories so as to conduct lab test in remote areas. It was explained that each of these mobile laboratories, which would be costing 15 million baht, will help the detection of bird flu, HIV, dengue viruses, and plan to start the services from August onwards. It was reported that they would provide the lab tests for the neighbouring countries on request.
