Thailand urges people to wear facial masks as another preventive step to fight flu A/H1N1 outbreak, said a senior health official on Monday.

The move was taken after thermo scanners installed at the country's international airport are found to be less efficient to limit the virus outbreak, Prat Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

"Over 30,000 foreign tourists from risk-affected countries arrive at Suvarnabhumi daily," he added.

The infra-red cameras, which are used to detect unusual body heat in a bid to curb the A/H1N1 flu virus outbreak, were also installed at Thailand's international airports during the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in 2003.

"Hence, the next step is to launch a campaign to urge Thais to wear facial masks," said Prat.

Thailand on Monday reported 51 more flu A/H1N1 cases, bringing the country's total number to 201.

Moreover, Health Ministry spokesman Suphan Srithama said, at a press conference on Monday, that the outbreak will expand as the virus spread, by its nature, will start from the cities and later enlarge to the countryside.

Amid the country's rising outbreak, many concerned parties have been alerted to curb the A/H1N1 virus spread.

On Monday afternoon, the Health Ministry and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration held a seminar in Bangkok, in which about 3,000 representatives from entertainment places, shopping centers, cinemas, schools and higher education institutions, and tutorial centers attended, aiming to curb the deadly flu spread.

The health experts suggested the participants that if there are at least three people in each place all at once are found to have contacted the disease, the owner has to report to a public health office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said in a statement obtained by Xinhua.

Also, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has continued with its campaign of "Big Cleaning Day" at public spheres, including schools and service and facility areas, the statement said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's staff cleaned Nangleung Market, one among crowded markets in capital Bangkok in a move to limit the flu outbreak.

In a related development, the number of schools in Bangkok and a nearby province, which have suspended classes, rose to 11, the Education Ministry said.

Among the country's 201 patients are 60 students.

Kasama Varawan Na Ayuthya, secretary of committee of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) said the OBEC has sent a letter to over 30,000 OBEC provincial offices, ordering them to get prepared to fight the flu A/H1N1 virus outbreak.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2009)