The ministry's permanent secretary Prat Bunyawongwiroj said such banquets or similar events with large gatherings were still regarded as high risk for spreading the disease.

Prat earlier visited a hospital in Ayutthaya province where five pregnant women with the influenza had been admitted for treatment. He said three had recovered and discharged. The other two were still being treated, but were no longer on life-support systems and could breathe on their own.

Prat did not comment on speculation that the hospital had hidden details about the admission of the five pregnant patients.

One woman, 36, gave birth prematurely to a baby boy, who was also infected with the disease. The other woman, 39, also gave birth but there was no sign of the baby being infected.

A 50-year-old inmate in the provincial prison has been diagnosed with the flu and is being treated at hospital. Her case has prompted concern among local corrections authorities that an outbreak could develop among inmates. There are five prisons in the province. -The Nation/ANN