Paijit Warachit, deputy permanent secretary for public health, said the flu mostly spread during the rainy and cold seasons and the disease in Hong Kong was of the H3N2 strain. Health experts also confirmed that there had been no outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Dr Paijit warned Thais wanting to travel to Hong Kong at this time to take good care of their health and regularly wash their hands with soap and water or hand gel.

Frequent hand washing would prevent the spread of the virus, he said.

Influenza spread easily, particularly among the elderly, children and those who suffered from chronic illnesses such as lung and heart diseases and asthma, he added.

The virus could be contracted through contact with the breath and saliva of those infected, said Dr Paijit.

He advised people to avoid sharing personal items such as glasses, mobile phones and spoons with infected people. Anyone with flu should wear a mask to prevent the disease from spreading.

Thawat Suntaracharn, chief of the Disease Control Department, said Thailand has been keeping a close watch on the spread of flu since January this year.

So far, 2,289 people across the country have been infected with the disease and two have died, he said.

In March, 67 people were found to have contracted the disease.

The situation was still less serious than last year, when 17,130 people were hospitalised with nine deaths.

The Medical Sciences Department found the influenza viruses that had spread in Thailand were the H3N2 and other strains.

No bird flu strains had been detected, said Dr Thawat.

In June this year, the Disease Control Department will launch a nationwide vaccination campaign targetting people aged over 65 and those who are vulnerable to flu.

Those at risk of infection are people with diabetes, high blood pressure, lung, liver and heart diseases. Their condition would deteriorate if they caught the virus, said the department chief. BANGKOK POST AND AFP