There have been five deaths from flu with the onset of monsoon among over 500 refugees suffering from fever in Mae La refugee camp 45 kilometers north of Maesod, Saw Nay Sang, a medical in-charge, said.

"Our medical report states there are over 500 patients. Among them, three elderly people and two children have died. In the last few days, six to seven people came to hospital. The patients are between one year old to elders".

Saw Nay Sang said that even though awareness programmes about flu is being undertaken in the camp, the number of patients have gone up. Just sprinkling mosquito repellents in the camp is not enough because refugees need to be made aware, the medical in-charge said.

At the moment the health situation of patients is under control and they are being provided treatment in AMI hospital in Mae La camp.

Even though flu is increasing in Mae La camp, medics said there are fewer afflictions in Mae Tao clinic, Ohm Pham camp and Noe Poe refugee camp.

"At worst, we see one or two patients, suffering from flu, coming to hospital in a day. There were 22 patients in the hospital in the last two weeks. Now the number of patients is gradually decreasing," medic Naw Say Lar Phaw said.

It is learnt that most people suffering from flu in Thai-Burma border towns are in Three Pagoda town, Myawaddy and Kawka Reik town.