Of the 1,649 inmates and prison officials at the correctional facility, 379 have tested positive for the deadly H1N1.

“Of the infected, 375 are inmates and four others are prison officials,” Public Health Department permanent-secretary Dr Sopon Mekton said yesterday.

He added that flu-like symptoms started spreading among inmates at the Narathiwat Prison in the middle of last month.

“The number of patients quickly rose between July 23 and 28 by as many as 40 per day,” Sopon said.

More than 500 inmates have displayed the flu-like symptoms but not all tested positive.

“Nine patients are being treated at a hospital. Other patients are receiving Oseltamivir at the prison in quarqantine,” he said.

Disease Control Department’s (DCD) deputy director-general Opart Karnkawinpon separately said inmates with chronic illnesses were also vaccinated.

The H1N1 virus was responsible for a flu pandemic in 2009.

Justice Ministry’s permanent secretary Charnchao Chaiyanukij said the Corrections Department would not relocate inmates to other prisons to prevent the spread of the disease.

Inmates and prison officials at the prison are required to wear medical face masks.

“Inmates who have to go to court will wear face masks. We will contact courts to ensure that judges and court officials also have masks on. In addition, air conditioners in the courtroom should not be turned on,” Charnchao said.

This year, H1N1 flu has affected 62,912 people in Thailand and killed seven including the two inmates.

Medical teams from the Corrections Department yesterday met with Narathiwat officials to prepare response plans in case the disease spreads within the prison.