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Published Date: 2012-06-15 21:05:57
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Hand, foot & mouth disease - Thailand (02)
Archive Number: 20120615.1351

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE - THAILAND (02)
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Date: Wed 13 Jun 2012
Source: National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) Public Relations
Department [edited]
http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255506130017

The Ministry of Public Health has instructed provincial health offices
to step up their measures to control the outbreak of hand-foot-mouth
disease (HFMD) among young children.

The northern region has reported the highest number of infection cases
while the ministry is strengthening surveillance, control, and treatment
of HFMD across the country.

Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said that since the onset of
the rainy season, HFMD outbreaks have been rife among infants and
children. He warned that with the start of the school year, the number
of infection cases might increase as the disease is easily contracted in
crowded areas.

The Ministry is urging health offices, teachers, and daycare staff to
closely monitor young children for symptoms such as fever, ulcers in the
throat, mouth, and tongue, and blistering rashes on their palms and
soles. As the disease is highly contagious, teachers and parents are
advised to contact health offices in their respective areas for further
instructions.

Since January this year [2012], the Ministry has reported over 6000
cases of HFMD patients, 3 times higher than that of the same period last
year [2011]. Out of that number, nearly 2000 are found in the North.

Mr Wittaya said that frequent hand washing and disinfecting of surface
areas inside buildings, as well as tools, toys, and utility items, can
help prevent the spread of HFMD. Children with HFMD should be kept home
for one week or until they completely recover.

[Byline: Orapa Chueyprasit]

--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[The newswire above mentions that the Ministry of Public Health has
instructed provincial health offices to strengthen surveillance, control
and treatment of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) across Thailand. The
current situation of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Yala province
was reported in prior PRO/MBDS posting Hand, foot & mouth disease -
Thailand: Yala 20120611.1312.

According to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, Bureau of
Epidemiology's (BOE) report on cases and deaths of HFMD under
surveillance by province in Thailand, available at
http://www.boe.moph.go.th/boedb/surdata/506wk/y55/d71_2355.pdf (in
Thai), a total of 7418 cases and no deaths were reported from 77
provinces between 1 Jan 2012 and 10 Jun 2012. The attack rate was 11.68
per 100 000 population. Of these, 2191 cases were reported from the
North region.

The south region has the highest attack rate (per 100 000 population) of
HFMD (20.40), followed by the north (18.61), central (10.41) and
northeastern (5.56) regions. High attack rates (per 100 000 population)
were reported in the 5 provinces of Phayao (80.88), Surat Thani (51.30),
Chiang Rai (45.02), Phuket (41.08) and Nan (35.53).

Numbers of cases (deaths) due to HFMD in Thailand during previous 5 years:
Year / cases (deaths)
2007 / 16 846 (0)
2008 / 11 277 (4)
2009 / 8806 (2)
2010 / 12 455 (0)
2011 / 18 196 (6)

For maps showing Thailand's regions, see
http://www.thailand-map.net/thailand_provinces/; for provinces, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Thailand. For the
interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Thailand with links to other
recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings, see
http://healthmap.org/r/1l5W. - Mod.SCM]

See Also