Govt: 3m may have caught swine flu

More than three million people in Thailand may have caught the A/H1N1 flu and have recovered by themselves, the Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday.

Health deputy permanent secretary Paichit Varachit said the swine flu outbreak can still intensify in the country, especially in the rural areas of the 15 northern and northeastern provinces.

Some of them are Chiang Mai, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Tak, Sukhothai, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Roi Et and Suphan Buri.

"People should not take the outbreak too lightly and they should follow the ministry's sanitary measures. Those with severe flu symptoms should see a doctor immediately," Dr Paichit said.

The country's death toll from swine flu infection rose to 130 last week, up by 11.