Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was admitted to Bumrungrad Hospital yesterday with food poisoning contracted during a regional summit in Laos.

Samak became sick on Monday after visiting a market in Vientiane. TV news coverage shows Samak complaining about fermented-fish chilly paste not being sour enough.

A government spokesman, Wichianchot Sukchotrat, says Samak is suffering from fever and diarrhoea. He was treated at Bumrungrad Hospital and sent home to recuperate.

Samak cancelled all appointments yesterday.

Doctors said later yesterday that Samak will have to stay on in the hospital for two or three days as he has contracted flu.

Samak, the former host of a TV cooking show, has enjoyed sampling the delicacies of local markets on trips around Southeast Asia since becoming prime minister.

Samak also cancelled an audience with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the eve of her birthday. However, he plans to visit the Philippines and Brunei this weekend.

Daily Xpress