Malaria rife in South Thailand

[george]

Malaria rife in border provinces

CHUMPHON: -- Malaria is ravaging three upper southern provinces even as the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease has dropped in other parts of the country, officials said.

The number of malaria cases in Chumphon, Surat Thani and Ranong remain at alarming levels, said Dr Thawat Suntharacharn, director-general of the Disease Control Department.

Chumphon was the worst affected with a 140-per-cent jump in reported cases. The province reported 465 cases last month compared with 185 in the same period last year.

Illegal workers from neighbouring countries have been among the worst hit by the disease.

“Fearing arrests, employers hide them from health authorities, who could treat them by inoculating them with vaccines,” Thawat said.

This in turn has inflated the number of victims this year. Employers are now being encouraged to have their workers checked and treated by medical authorities.

Another factor that may explain the high number of cases is increased logging to clear land for farming, said Dr Narongsak Ungkasuwapala, deputy permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry.

To tackle the outbreak, the ministry has sent a number of mobile units to affected areas including Tak province in the north.

Thirty provinces have reported serious cases of malaria, said Thawat, with most of them located near the Thai-Burmese border.

Anti-malaria units were trying to eradicate mosquito-breeding grounds in places where there had been outbreaks.

They are also testing people for infection. At tourist sites such as Koh Chang, one unit works around the clock to provide treatment for the disease. “People need not panic as malaria is spreading only in border areas,” said Narongsak.

--The Nation 2005-06-08

[george]

South under malaria watch

The Disease Control Department is keeping a close watch on five southern provinces where malaria is rife.

Thawat Suntrajarn, director-general of the department, named the five provinces as Surat Thani, Yala, Phangnga, Chumphon and Ranong.

Southern people are prone to catching malaria as most of them work on rubber and oil palm plantations, he said.

Malaria was widespread in Chumphon and Ranong, the two southern provinces bordering Burma where Burmese workers in Thai factories are carriers of the disease, the official said.

As many as 3,190 cases of malaria, most of them Burmese, were also found in Tha Song Yang and Mae Sot districts of Tak in the North, said Dr Thawat.

One reason why controlling the disease has become more difficult is that the department this year was allocated only seven million baht to fight malaria, a sharp drop from 18 million baht a year ago.

He said Koh Chang in Trat was also highly infested with malaria, prompting the department to set up a control centre on the island.

Meanwhile, dengue fever killed the only son of Democrat MP for Surat Thani, Sinit Lertkrai, on Monday.

Sitthinon, 7, was the second dengue fever victim in the province this year. The first case was a 24-year-old woman who died in Kanchanadit district on Feb 1.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-08

[sriracha john]

Dr Thawat Suntharacharn, director-general of the Disease Control Department.

Illegal workers from neighbouring countries have been among the worst hit by the disease.

“Fearing arrests, employers hide them from health authorities, who could treat them by inoculating them with vaccines,” Thawat said.

What on God's Green Earth is the good Dr. Thawat blathering about???

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

and this is coming from director-general of the Disease Control Department???

<deleted> ?!?!?!

[george]

Malaria sweeps through South

More than 400 malaria cases have been reported in Yala amid a fresh outbreak in the region, with the Public Health Ministry laying part of the blame on immigrant labourers.

Dr Boonchai Phumboplap, director of the Vector-borne Disease Control Centre 12 in Songkhla, said malaria rates in seven southern provinces were high, especially in Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.

A Yala health report said that from January 1 to May 31, the province recorded 407 malaria cases. Bannang Sata district topped the list with 115 cases, followed by Than To district with 57 and Kabang sub-district with 53.

The centre dispatched officials to provide information to villagers about the disease and clear mosquito breeding grounds in the jungle, Boonchai said. Chemical-coated mosquito nets were also distributed.

Chaisombat Jaisawang, head of the Vector-borne Disease Control Centre 11 in Ranong, said 345 out of about 29,000 Thais in the province had been diagnosed with malaria, compared with 1,000 out of 6,000 immigrants.

Chaisombat said the Ranong outbreak was due to the local tropical-mountain terrain, authorities’ failure to spray residences with insecticides in March and April and residents refusing to use mosquito nets.

Meanwhile, Sommai Homlaor, deputy chief of Chumphon’s the Vector-borne Disease Control Centre 11.4, said the centre’s two-week-old malaria clinic had been testing about 100 people per day, with 20 per cent showing positive for malaria. The malaria patients received free medicine and officials sprayed their homes with insecticide.

From last October through April, 9,099 Thais and 5,040 foreigners were infected with malaria.

--The Nation 2005-06-09

[george]

Malaria grips Surat Thani

SURAT THANI: -- Thailand's southern province of Surat Thani is battling with a major outbreak of malaria, with 279 new cases discovered last month.

Yesterday Mr. Somboon Nunuan, head of the local insect-borne disease control centre, said that the infection by Plasmodium Falcuparum (PF), a severe malaria strain, had been discovered in 279 of 13,016 patients who had their blood tested.

The worst affected district is Khiriratnikom, followed by Wiphawadee, Tha Chana and Muang districts.

The majority of patients are rubber and palm farmers or schoolchildren.

From October last year to May this year, 888 people in the province have been infected by the mosquito-borne disease.

Although there have been no reports of malaria-rated deaths in the province, the high number of infected people means that the rate of infection is likely to rise.

--TNA 2005-06-09

[Kaojai]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

[Pak Chong]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He shoots, HE Scores!!! Ha Ha!

[phuketrichard]

GREAT just what Phuket needs,

Bird flu

Sars

Tsunami

Terrorists

now Malaria!!

When will it all end????

[No beleeeeve!]

The Malaria hub of Asia...of the world.

[kyselak]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well roared, lion

[Jimmy in Bangkok]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

....8..9..10 and yes folks no-one is getting up after that one

[Bilko]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ho Ho

[sriracha john]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hahahaha... the only thing I disdain are people like you who assume so much.

[Tornado]

thats one way to clean up the mess in the south.........conspiracy I say!

[sbk]

GREAT  just what Phuket needs,

Bird flu

Sars

Tsunami

Terrorists

now  Malaria!!

When will it all end????

Where in any of these articles does it list Phuket? I see Ranong, Surat Thani, Chumpon, Phang nga, and Yala.

[married2surin]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ho Ho

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually US army do have a malaria vaccine, it's not all that good though as it involves being bitten by 1000 irradiated infected mosquitos to give you a enough of a dose of malaria parasites, that are errectively immobilised by the radiation.... oh and it only works for 9 months.... GlaxoSmithCline are also trialing a vaccine but it is not 100% effective at stopping Malaria, but is very effective at reducing the mortality rate, and the speed of death of those infected.

What the doctor was maybe talking about was Artemisinin based cures to Malaria, along with the Bill Gates funded Institute for OneWorld Health's OZ277 artifical Artemisinin based cures, both of which are proven to cure the majority of cases of Malaria.

Why make a post on a subject you obviously don't know the facts about yourself ?

To help you being more factual iin your posts in future please on this subject have a quick look at this link and then maybe use T'internet to research the subject before opening you big fat condecending trap....

BBC Horizon programme info

Institute for OneWorld Health - Malaria

Edited June 9, 2005 by married2surin

[aqua4]

QUOTE(Kaojai @ 2005-06-09 09:34:45

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

[right)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/right]

Another farang gone native.

Edited June 9, 2005 by aqua4

[Galong]

GREAT  just what Phuket needs,

Bird flu

Sars

Tsunami

Terrorists

now  Malaria!!

When will it all end????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

THe next thing might be massive school riots as it seems like the Thai students like violence as much as American kids.

After that, it could be a bomb either going off in a tourist area or the media providing the terrorists (oh that's right I forgot, Thailand doesn't have terrorists.. sorry Toxin) with free publicity. Meaning, the media only has to SAY that the terrorists will bomb some place. That's just about as damaging (not meaning to belittle the deaths that actually occur from terrorist acts)

Darn, it seems like Thailand is starting to be just as screwed up as the US of A. If it starts getting cold, I might as well head back. <tongue planted firmly in cheek>

[francois]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

hi'

very well said

I re-quote your last sentence "it's a lot easier ..." SOOO true!

so many like this ...

BTW, everybody knows there is no vaccine agaisnt malaria, only good treatments!

and one should know that after a water disaster like the latest tsunami, diseases are up for spreading all over the place, considering the season too ...

francois

[silk123]

QUOTE(Kaojai @ 2005-06-09 09:34:45

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

[right)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/right]

Another farang gone native.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounded more like a Thai pretending to be farang or just a newbie farang that is still in la la land. Reminds me of the comment about a former colonial power losing face after a certain entire country couldn't get it together to buy a share of an English cities football club. la la logic.

[PeaceBlondie]

Different question: how much is Burma and the Burmese immigrants to blame for the presence of mosquitos in Thailand?

[Foggy Bottom]

Hmmm......

From my perspective as a cynical journalist, there are two main stories in the combined news clippings -

The first is the outbreaks of malaria, which commendably, the government and health bodies are not hiding but are actively attacking, and warning the public.

The other is the general style of statements that it's all the fault of the Burmese migrant workers. The consistent focus on them being the carriers / victims /untreated etc may just start off waves of prejudice or persecution against them by the general populace, which we all know are easily led by authority figures.

Reading between the lines, the focus against a foreign sector of society may be to calm prejudice that has built up against the Islamic Thai community after all the violence in the lower 3 provinces - perhaps the government is trying to redirect peoples attention and give the peninsula provinces a reason to rally together as united Thais?

- just musing, haven't made a firm opinion of it yet.

[Laulen]

Go easy on the CDC (Communicable Disease Control) Department. I know many of them through having taught English there for about 3 months.

They are thoroughly professional in the jobs that they do, and careless reporting and quoting of officials, including translation errors probably led to the idea of 'vaccines' being available to treat malaria.

Instead of carping on about this, why not do something about supporting the fight to control malaria yourself?

On Saturday 3rd December 2005, why not 'swim for malaria'

Laulen

[Boatabike]

South under malaria watch

Malaria was widespread in Chumphon and Ranong, the two southern provinces bordering Burma where Burmese workers in Thai factories are carriers of the disease, the official said.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Different question: how much is Burma and the Burmese immigrants to blame for the presence of mosquitos in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It’s actually a not very well known fact the Burmese workers are often seen in the AM. And PM. flitting about the poor Thai citizens, biting them and spreading the horrid disease Malaria. Most people seem to think it was the Mosquito that was responsible for this, but due to an enormous amount of research done by Toxins task force the new evidence shows it to be the Burmese!

Edited June 9, 2005 by Boatabike

[cutter007]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

He probably said/meant that they could give a malaria prophylaxis, or that malaria could be effectively treated once someone was ill.

It was probably another case of poor translation and lamentable use of English such as the Pattaya Mail's recent reference to "soar throats" and "penile servitude."

I have no doubt that the doctor knows what he’s talking about...in Thai.

Rather than criticize what he was reported as saying in a dubious English translation, why not read the original Thai text of what was said? …assuming your apparent expertise in all things extends to understanding the language of the country in which you reside.

Of course, it's a whole lot easier to play pseudo-colonial disdainer of all you survey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't really think Kaojai is an appropriate name for you to use.

I don't need to read the Thai text to see what it said, the word for vaccine in Thai is vaccine, just spelled with Thai letters.

I find it very unlikely that someone made a "dubious" translation error translating vaccine from vaccine.

My guess is the good doctor, is more of a politician than a doctor.

And probably is dumb enough to not know there isn't a commonly

used vaccine for malaryia.

(I am sure they are not giving Burmese migrant workers, exotic and I am sure costly vaccines designed by the US Army)

Why couldn't he be that stupid, his boss is telling everyone to turn off their lights and drive slower to save energy. My maid could come up with a better plan than that.

[meadish_sweetball]

A kind request: Please refrain from personal attacks and stay with the facts. Posting when agitated is not advisable. Think over your posts once or twice before you send them, then we wont have to edit them for you afterwards.

Cheers.

meadish

[ayakiawe]

"GREAT just what Phuket needs,

Bird flu Sars

Tsunami Terrorists

now Malaria!!

When will it all end???? "

When the Thais (mainly but everyone in Thailand for that matter including YOU) clean up the toxic mess they continue to make each and everyday in Thailand.

Mosquitoes come from dead toxic environments

(I.e. no fish because there all dead from toxic chemicals, lots of bugs/ mosquitoes etc thrive without them, get it?)

Also the very poor modern Thai diet is a big part of the problem. Truly healthy people can’t get diseases plain and simple.

They are blaming the Burmese so it can look like it’s not really a Thai problem and to take the spotlight off the issue so tourist money wont stop coming in.

Put the chemical companies out of biz and you will solve the problem a lot quicker! Provide organic high quality healthy foods without chemicals and the people will eat well & be strong and beat any and all diseases.

Edited June 9, 2005 by ayakiawe

[sriracha john]

There's NO such thing as a malaria vaccine.

Actually US army do have a malaria vaccine, it's not all that good though as it involves being bitten by 1000 irradiated infected mosquitos to give you a enough of a dose of malaria parasites, that are errectively immobilised by the radiation.... oh and it only works for 9 months.... GlaxoSmithCline are also trialing a vaccine but it is not 100% effective at stopping Malaria, but is very effective at reducing the mortality rate, and the speed of death of those infected.

What the doctor was maybe talking about was Artemisinin based cures to Malaria, along with the Bill Gates funded Institute for OneWorld Health's OZ277 artifical Artemisinin based cures, both of which are proven to cure the majority of cases of Malaria.

Why make a post on a subject you obviously don't know the facts about yourself ?

To help you being more factual iin your posts in future please on this subject have a quick look at this link and then maybe use T'internet to research the subject before opening you big fat condecending trap....

BBC Horizon programme info

Institute for OneWorld Health - Malaria

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting websites you choose to support your side. Really shows how wrong you are. I said there is no such thing as a malaria vaccine and that is true. Did I say there won't ever be one? No. If you would like to be part of the human clinical trials, then be my guest. You might be of some benefit to mankind that way.

From your first referenced website:

"The other way science is hoping to attack malaria in the future is with a vaccine."

From your second referenced website:

"OneWorld Health received a US $1.4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in July 2004 to fund malaria vaccine development."

A couple more for you to look at:

Hopes of malaria vaccine by 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3742876.stm

Army-Developed Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise. The first effective inoculation against malaria may be ready if all goes well by 2010.

http://www.usmedicine.com/article.cfm?arti...1004&issueID=70

In case you are unfamiliar with the English language, that means there is NO such thing as a malaria vaccine. Will there be sometime in the future? I hope so. [Deleted personal attack. /meadish]

[sriracha john]

BTW, everybody knows there is no vaccine agaisnt malaria

Sad, but apparently some people are totally unaware of that fact, francois.

[Boatabike]

To all that are totally unaware that there is not a Malaria vaccine.

Special price on malaria vaccine this week. Tablet form and easy to swallow send me a cheque for 200 Baht to get you 100% super dooper anti malaria vaccine in the post today..!

Save yourself the sweat of malaria buy 500 get one free!

This is a sarcastic post and is not meant in any way to mislead people..Honest.