BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai authorities issued an urgent warning after influenza claimed 100 lives nationwide during the cool season.
Five major illnesses rising with cooler weather
The drop in temperatures caused a worrying rise in five major diseases, according to deputy government spokesperson Airin Phanrit. At the top of the list was influenza with 161,940 new cases last month, followed by diarrhea (62,157), pneumonia (35,953), RSV infections (9,698) and food poisoning (8,375).
“The population should protect their health during the change of seasons.”
said the government.
Nationwide flu burden approaching one million cases
Since the beginning of the year, authorities recorded 940,869 influenza cases nationwide, with 100 deaths. Children aged 5 to 9 were the most affected group, while most fatalities occurred among seniors with an average age of 61 years. Particularly alarming for health officials was that 94 percent of those who died had not been vaccinated against the flu.
Clusters feared in prisons and schools
Although overall numbers declined slightly this month, the Department of Disease Control warned of potential outbreaks in community settings. Prisons, schools and training centers were singled out as especially vulnerable, where the virus was spreading rapidly. The dominant circulating strain was A/H3N2 (76%), followed by A/H1N1 and B viruses, creating what officials described as a dangerous combination for the health system.
Call for annual vaccination of high‑risk groups
The government appealed to citizens to act responsibly, stressing that annual influenza vaccination for risk groups remained the best protection. Of the 100 fatalities, 57 percent had pre-existing conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease or tuberculosis.
“High-risk groups should be vaccinated annually to strengthen immunity,”
said the official recommendation.
Health crisis behind Thailand’s cool‑season tourism
Officials said the figures pointed to a serious health crisis, as the cool season turned into a dangerous period for infections. While tourists enjoyed the pleasant temperatures, the country was fighting what was described as an invisible threat in the background. The message from health authorities was unequivocal: vaccination saves lives, and those in risk groups were urged to act without delay.