Published Date: 2007-07-09 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Dengue - Thailand (04): RFI
Archive Number: 20070709.2184
DENGUE - THAILAND (04): REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 8 Jul 2007
Source: The Nation [edited]
<http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/08/national/national_30039806.php>
An outbreak of dengue fever has killed 17 people, and the number of
patients infected with the disease nationwide this year [2007] has
risen to more than 20 000, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday
[7 Jul 2007].
Dr Vichai Stimai, director of the Bureau of Vector-borne Disease,
said the number of dengue-fever patients in the 1st half of the year
had risen to 21 251 people, 36 per cent higher than the same period
last year [2006].
"The situation this year [2007] is more serious than last year
because of the earlier arrival of the rainy season, which brought
forward the hatching period of the dengue mosquito," he said.
Not only Thailand, said Vichai, but also neighboring countries --
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and
Indonesia -- have faced the same situation this year [2007, see prior
PRO/MBDS postings referenced below].
He urged the public to remove the breeding grounds of dengue-carrying
mosquitoes by covering all water containers in households. Mosquito
spray is also recommended.
He said the Public Health Ministry had ordered health officials to
work with local authorities to prevent the further spread or any outbreak.
Dr Nattawut Prasertsiripong, chief of the Surat Thani provincial
health office, said the disease had claimed 2 lives in the province.
He recommended that people who have fever for 2-7 days, severe
headache, muscle pains and pain behind the eyes visit a doctor, as
these are symptoms of dengue.
He warned those with the symptoms not to take aspirin, but rather the
painkiller paracetamol.
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS <promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[It is clear that this is an exceptional year for dengue in the MBDS
region and other southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Singapore and
Indonesia have also reported significant dengue activity this year.).
The above newswire further supports this conclusion with the mention
of over 21 000 reported cases this year (2007) in Thailand,
representing a 36 percent increase in reported cases over the same
period last year (2006). In the past few days, Thailand, Viet Nam and
Myanmar have been reporting significant increases in dengue activity
over 2006 (see PRO/MBDS postings on dengue today 9 Jul 2007), and
Cambodia has also been reporting significant increases. If there is
more information on the dengue activity in Thailand, including
information on the viral serotype(s) predominant this year, PRO/MBDS
would greatly appreciate receiving this information to share with our
subscribers.
For a map of Thailand with provinces, see
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/thailand_admin_2005.jpg>.
- Mod.MPP]