The True Story: Astana Orders Measures Against Flu and Respiratory Infections

Tengrinews reported on 20 November 2025 that Aigul Shagaltaeva, Astana's chief sanitary doctor, signed a decree on 19 November to tighten measures after 23,002 acute respiratory infections in one week, up 1.5 times. Children under 14 made up 60% of cases, and H3N2 was circulating.

Measures included restricting mass events, mandatory masks, temperature checks, daily morning health checks for students and staff, and moving classes online from 20 November to 5 December when more than 30% of a class was ill.

The Key Lesson: Prepare Before Restrictions Arrive

Shopping malls and event organisers in Thailand host thousands of people a day sharing lifts, escalators, toilets and food courts.

• Strict measures can arrive fast, so malls need backup plans for events
• Many shared touch points: escalator rails, lift buttons and food court trays
• Children get sick most, so kids' zones need special care
• Masks and hand gel should be ready to hand out during outbreaks
• Cleaning reports build customer confidence

How Flu Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza spreads easily where people gather, such as schools and nursing homes. It spreads through droplets when people cough or sneeze, and through hands that touch contaminated surfaces and then the eyes, nose or mouth. Most people recover within a week, but young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic illness are at risk of severe disease. Influenza is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Risk Register for Shopping Malls and Event Organisers

1. Events cancelled or capped: likelihood medium / impact high / level high. Mitigation: Plans for capped or online formats, with pre-event fogging. Owner: Marketing
2. Contaminated escalator rails and lift buttons: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: Hourly wiping and fogging after closing. Owner: Facilities
3. Crowded food courts: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: Wipe tables each turn and space seating. Owner: Food court manager
4. Sick children in kids' zones: likelihood medium / impact medium / level medium. Mitigation: Screening signs and after-hours ozone treatment. Owner: Kids' zone manager
5. Shop staff ill at the same time: likelihood medium / impact medium / level medium. Mitigation: Encourage tenants' stay-home-when-sick policies. Owner: Tenant management

7 Steps to Prepare Malls and Events for Flu Season

1. Follow health announcements and have a plan to scale events
2. Place hand gel at entrances, lifts and food courts
3. Wipe escalator rails and lift buttons every hour
4. Space food court tables and wipe each one after use
5. Fog common areas every night after closing during outbreaks
6. Ozone-treat kids' zones, nursing rooms and first-aid rooms when empty
7. Tell customers about the measures on screens and social media

How ULV Disinfection Fogging Helps

The World Health Disinfection disinfection service uses ULV fogging machines that turn the disinfectant into a fine mist. It settles across the whole area, including corners, curtains, upholstery and surfaces that hand wiping cannot reach.

• Whole-area coverage without relying on wiping spot by spot
• Quick return to use, typically about 30 minutes after fogging
• Uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page
• The team wears full protective equipment, so owners and staff do not take the risk themselves
• Report and photos after the job for customers, management or authorities
• Tax invoice with 3% withholding tax for companies and agencies

Ozone Treatment for Closed Rooms and Stuffy Spaces

The World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service uses machines that generate ozone gas from oxygen in the air. It suits closed rooms such as meeting rooms, bedrooms, classrooms, sick bays and vans, helping reduce germs in the air and on surfaces and removing stale odours. Ozone breaks back down into oxygen after treatment, leaving no residue.

• Works alongside disinfection fogging: spray or wipe surfaces first, then use ozone for the air and corners of closed rooms
• No people or pets in the room during treatment: the team seals the room and runs a timer
• Ventilate after treatment before normal use resumes
• Machines tested by Intertek, according to WHD's service page
• Ideal after someone has been ill, such as recovered patients' rooms, shared bedrooms and shuttle vans

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a large mall be fully fogged? A: Yes. The team fogs zone by zone after closing, and areas are typically usable about 30 minutes later.

Q: Should we fog before a big event? A: It reduces surface germs before crowds arrive; book in advance.

Q: Does the fogging disinfectant work on flu? A: The team uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page, and influenza is an enveloped virus that suitable disinfectants can inactivate. Fogging does not replace vaccination or handwashing.

Q: Can I enter the room right after ozone treatment? A: No one should be in the room during treatment. Ventilate afterwards before normal use; the team will advise the right time for the room size.

Q: Can malls and event companies get a tax invoice? A: Yes. Tax invoices are issued and 3% withholding tax is supported. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Related Links and Sources

• World Health Disinfection disinfection service
• World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price
• Influenza information from Thailand's Department of Disease Control, hotline 1422
• WHO seasonal influenza fact sheet

Prevent Flu with Disinfection Fogging and Ozone Treatment

Astana shows strict measures can come at once when cases surge, so malls and organisers should prepare first. Reduce the risk with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for food courts, walkways and event spaces, and the ozone treatment service for kids' zones, nursing rooms and first-aid rooms. To book, call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268