Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Sunday reported a ninth case of influenza A/H1N1 infection in the country.

Witthaya Kaewparadai, Public Health Minister, said the latest patient was a 29-year-old businessman who returned from the United States on Thursday and was admitted to a hospital on Saturday morning after having felt sick around Friday midnight.

According to lab result by the Department of Medical Sciences on Saturday, the man's example tested positive for the virus, he said.

Suphan Srithamma, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health said relatives and other people who had been in close contact with the patient have been closely monitored and have not developed any symptoms. They will be quarantined for three to seven days to ensure that they were not infected.

Meanwhile, Dr Paichit Varachit, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, expressed his appreciation that the patient provide good cooperation on medical history.

On May 12, the Public Health Ministry announced Thailand's first two A/H1N1 flu cases. On Thursday the ministry confirmed that Thailand had the first human-to-human case of A/H1N1 flu patient, also the seventh case in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2009)