Thailand's health ministry has warned of a rapidly spreading flu epidemic, with four provinces in the country's northeast worst affected.
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| The number of people with influenza is increasing in Thailand. (Source: Nation Thailand) |
Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said flu cases have spiked this month, urging people with possible flu symptoms to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. Health officials are now accelerating the rollout of vaccines to vulnerable groups, especially children and the elderly.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health data shows that there have been 7,819 cases of influenza since the beginning of 2025 as of January 25. However, as of February 15, the total number of infections this year has skyrocketed to 99,057, with nine deaths.
The Ministry of Health also said that H1N1 is the main strain of flu virus in Thailand at present. Most cases are detected in schools and children aged 5-9 are the most vulnerable group.
Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Buri Ram and Chaiyaphum provinces are the worst affected, with a total of about 6,938 flu patients.
According to the Department of Disease Control, the influenza incidence in Thailand is expected to increase steadily from about 472,000 cases in 2023 to 668,000 cases in 2024. Current trends suggest that the 2025 figure will surpass that of 2024.
Previously, posting on Facebook on February 9, Professor Yong Poovorawan, a leading virologist in Thailand at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, recommended that travelers to countries in the Northern Hemisphere should get a flu vaccine at least two weeks before traveling abroad.
However, he also called for calm, saying that flu is seasonal and Thailand does not have the same flu variant that is attacking Japan.
The situation in Japan has attracted the attention of the Thai public as famous Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu died after contracting the flu earlier this month while in Japan.
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