Health
Thai Health Officials Warn about the Spread of Dengue Fever
Community health workers in the Thai border town of Mae Sot have developed a health education campaign under the banner of Stop Dengue
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BANGKOK – Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is urging the general public to take precautionary measures against the spread of dengue fever, assuring that there are no new dengue virus strains in Thailand, an official says.
The MOPH permanent-secretary Sopon Mekthon has revealed the number of dengue fever patients from January 2015 was recorded at 100,000 persons, reflecting the typical cycle of dengue outbreaks in Thailand which takes place every other year.
He warned that the general public in the northern and central provinces should be alarmed as the areas had recorded a continuous outbreak of this disease during previous year, while the current number of patients and outbreak tendency in each province remains stable.
The general public are now encouraged to eliminate habitats of mosquito larvae, which are sources or containers of still water on a weekly basis, and to protect themselves from mosquito’s by using mosquito nets, mosquito repellents, or by wearing long sleeve shirts. The public can also request for the mosquito control fumigation service should any dengue patient is discovered in their area.
There are four strains of dengue virus in Thailand, while the exact treatment and vaccine for the disease is unavailable. The best way is to prevent the disease through avoidance of being bitten by any mosquito’s.
On this matter, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general Amnuay Gajeena has said that symptoms for dengue includes high fever, nausea, vomiting in blood, loss of appetite, blushing, blood spots on skin, nose bleeding, and gum bleeding.
Persons with the symptoms are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention for diagnosis and treatment. Patients are prone to shocks, which could be fatal, unless under close medical care.
The World Health Organization has classified dengue as “the fastest growing mosquito-borne disease, with almost half the world’s population now at risk” and “one of the leading causes of serious illness and death among children.”
The public can also call the DDC 1422 hotline for inquiries regarding this disease.
