Thailand is monitoring the situation very closely in the wake of recent Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in the Americas, Europe, and other parts of the world. Until now, there is no report of Influenza A (H1N1) case in the Kingdom, and Thailand should be considered to be safe.
Thailand still welcomes all visitors. However, in the light of the decision by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5, the Thai public health authority has activated preventive measures to monitor the Influenza and to prevent its possible spread into the Kingdom, especially from inbound travelers from the areas that the Influenza has been found. These measures include:
- monitoring and screening of inbound international travelers
- deployment of Thermo Scans at every international airport in Thailand to screen incoming travelers
- distribution of Health Beware Cards and health questionnaire to inbound international travelers, by collaboration between public health authority and international airlines
- coordination with tour companies, hotels and airlines in order to take care and give advice to travelers
For your own well being and that of the general public, visitors to Thailand are requested to cooperate with and to follow instructions of public health authority, both at the ports of entry and within the Kingdom. Please answer the questionnaire truthfully, and report immediately to the public heath authority should you develop any symptom of influenza or respiratory infection.
Medical service in Thailand is of international standard. Thailand also has past experiences in successfully dealing with the SARS and Avian Flu. The public health authority in Thailand thus has full confidence that, with the level of preparedness gained through our experiences, the collaboration with the WHO, and cooperation from the general public, we shall be able to continue to put situation under control in Thailand.
If you have any further questions or queries, there are two 24-hour hotlines in service, namely, the Ministry of Public Health Hotline 1669 (for calls within Thailand), and the Department of Disease Control tel. 02 590 3333 (for calls within Thailand) or tel. +66 2 590 3333 (for calls from abroad).
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th