Thailand's Public Heath Ministry has instructed on Friday its public health offices nationwide to control the expanding A/H1N1 influenza virus outbreak within the next three months, otherwise the outbreak might prolong until the end of the year.

Speaking at a northeastern province of Ubonratchthani, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparada said that now among all groups of people, who have been closely monitored by public health officers, over 70 percent are school students.

He was speaking as he presided over an opening ceremony of a meeting held in Ubonratchthani, in which over 2,000 people including medical staff and village health volunteers from four northeastern provinces -- Ubonratchthani, Srisaked, Yasothorn and Amnardjareon -- participated.

The school students, who developed mild flu symptoms, did not stop going to schools and spread the new flu to other students, resulting in the rising outbreak among them, he said.

"Currently, an A/H1N1-flu-affected patient can spread the disease to two people around him or her," he said.

Hence, he directed the meeting participants to suggest parents to have class suspension for their children for at least five days or until they fully recover, after their children develop flu symptoms.

And, after having high fever for two or three days, they do not recover, parents must take their ill children to see doctors immediately, he added.

The medical staff also needs to continue alerting the public with preventive measures, which include often hand washing, wearing face masks and often cleaning common touch areas, and avoiding crowded areas.

By now, more than 40 provinces across the country have been hit by the rising new flu virus, he said.

Thailand's death toll from the deadly new virus has remained at five since June 27, including two deaths on July 1, in Bangkok and a central province of Chonburi, next to capital Bangkok.

The country had its first two confirmed patients on May 12, and according to the World Health Organization, Thailand ranked 33rd as the country, which has been hit by the deadly new virus.

(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2009)