An Outbreak of Influenza A Virus in a Hilltribe Village
of Mae Hong Son Province Thailand, 1997
WARALUK TANGKANAKUL, M.D.*,
PRANEE THA WATSUPHA, B.Sc. ***,
JAREANSAK LERTMONGKOL, B.Sc.****
PIYANIT THARMAPHORNPILAS,M.D.,YI.P.H.**
PITTAYA LAOLUKPONG, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Control Ministry of Public Health,
** Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health,
*** National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health. Nonthaburi 11000.
**** Pai Hospital, Maehongson Provincial Health Office, Maehongson 58130, Thailand.
AbstractAn outbreak of Influenza A virus occurred in a hilltribe village between July 18'
11 and August S'h, 1997. The overall infection rate was 92.5 per cent. The household infection rate was
higher in the crowded part of the village. The symptoms analyzed after all. were fever (l 00'7r ).
cough (99o/c ), headache, myalgia (78.1%) and rhinorrhea (50.57C ). The patients were self- recovery
within 5-7 days. Isolation and Haemagglutination inhibition test (HI) were undertaken to identify
the causative agent. The results were positive for influenza NWuhan/359/95(H,N) - like strain.
The outbreak did not spread to the town, possibly because of the differences in environmental
condition. Predisposing factors of the village that may have influenced the outbreak were crowded
living quarters, cold (8- 10°C) and moist weather, poor personal hygiene and improper sanitation.
Keywords : Outbreak, Influenza, North Thailand
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