The school said the measure was necessary to prevent the virus from spreading. It also advised pupils to immediately see doctors if they fall ill and not to come to school until they fully recover.

Piyasakol said Bangkok in the past week had seen many school pupils suffering from influenza and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration was working closely with the Disease Control Department to monitor and prevent the disease. He also urged people to close their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing or use facemasks.

He also instructed patients to avoided crowded places and ask for leave from school or workplaces until fully recovered.

Meanwhile, the Disease Control Department’s Bureau of Emerging Infectious Diseases director Dr Woraya Luang-on said there had been an influenza outbreak in city areas, with patients found in clusters, as the virus was transmitted via the respiratory system.

She praised the school’s decision to suspend classes as the disease could spread faster among students in a school situation than in adults.

In January, there were 4,875 reported cases of flu in Thailand, mostly affecting patients under the age of 14, Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said yesterday.

The ministry estimates the number of cases in Thailand will be more than 300,000 this year.