# 3483
Thailand now has 24 deaths attributed to the H1N1 virus, and has announced it will close hundreds of schools in Bangkok to try to combat its spread.
The reason given for the school closures . . . that they will give the 435 schools a `thorough cleaning’ assumes that the culprit in the spread of this disease are fomites – inanimate objects like desks and chairs, sinks, door handles, and computer keyboards that have the virus deposited on them.
While it is believed that fomites play some role in the transmission of influenza, the flu virus generally can only live for a few hours on a hard, dry surface.
Most doctors believe that direct contact with an infected individual is the most common route of transmission. The idea that a `thorough cleaning’ of the schools will break the chain of transmission may be a bit simplistic.
Closing schools could, of course, reduce the rate of transmission by lowering the amount of contact between school children. But that would likely only be effective if these kids stay home, and don’t find another place to congregate and swap the virus.
Thai capital to close 435 schools to halt H1N1 spread
14 Jul 2009 09:54:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
BANGKOK, July 14 (Reuters) - The Thai capital will close 435 schools for five days to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Thailand has reported 4,057 cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, since mid-May and 24 deaths from the virus, 10 of them people from Bangkok.
"We will conduct a thorough cleaning of the schools during the closure to prevent further outbreaks here," Ponksak Semsan, permanent secretary-general of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said in a statement, announcing the closure from Wednesday.
(Continue . . . )
