Thai doctor slams WHO over U-turn on face masks

By The Nation

 

 

A Thai expert in respiratory diseases has slammed the World Health Organisation (WHO) for reversing its guidance on face masks and recommending that all people wear one in public.

 

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, who works at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, said the (WHO) had misled the world after previously saying there was no clear evidence that a cloth mask could help prevent the spread of the disease.

 

The new guidance comes after many countries around the world, including Thailand, advised people months ago that they should wear masks outside the house.

 

This is not the first time the WHO has disagreed with disease control measures in Thailand and other countries. The WHO also warns against spraying disinfectants to reduce the spread of the disease, citing risks to health and the environment. The Thai Public Health Ministry and Infectious Disease Association have defended the measure at the WHO.

 

Meanwhile, Dr Manoon also shared his experience of another dispute with WHO representatives.

 

“Back in 1997, the World Health Organisation stated that examining tuberculosis drug sensitivity in developing countries is useless and wasteful. I contested that position in 1998, saying Thailand needs to check. Not knowing the [patient’s] sensitivity to a drug may mean the doctor can’t use it, because otherwise the germ targeted could become more resistant and continue to spread to others. WHO representative in Thailand at that time said my advice was irresponsible, pulling money from others’ budgets.”

 

He founded a fund for research into anti-tuberculosis drug sensitivity under the patronage of Princess Galyani Vadhana in 2001, to aid treatment in public hospitals. Eventually, the WHO changed its advice and recommended that all countries check sensitivity before starting treatment – but not before it earned criticism for its original policy from the Wall Street Journal in 2012.

 

Dr Manoon concluded that it was time for the WHO to reform and listen to different opinions so as to offer quick and accurate guidance on how to combat disease.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389341?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-09

 

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But, I can not go to the store, or mall, or park, or anywhere in my condo without wearing a mask, so Is this doctor trying to say Thailand was misinformed in the beginning and only now the WHO says to wear one.  So f.......confused.  Must I wear a condom when I have sex with my wife, or has the WHO said I do not need one....

Edited June 9, 20206 yr by ThailandRyan

13 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

This is not the first time the WHO has disagreed with disease control measures in Thailand and other countries.

face it, the WHO is incompetent

Most of the world seems to have got the message now, in spite of the WHO. That is, apart from the UK and USA, and all the idiots who think it's their democratic right to infect other people. 

4 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Most of the world seems to have got the message now, in spite of the WHO. That is, apart from the UK and USA, and all the idiots who think it's their democratic right to infect other people. 

Those Idiots are now called Anti Maskers.  They follow the same as the anti Vaccers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-maskers-say-they-cant-wear-masks-because-medical-conditions-2020-5

 

But doctors say various conditions don't excuse people from wearing masks, but rather emphasize the importance of wearing one correctly.

Edited June 9, 20206 yr by ThailandRyan

Basically he's basking in the rays of the " we told you so " light ..

WHO are numpties as well by the way .. 

He's right and the WHO is full of shlt, especially Tedros.

 

The WHO do things that suit them, a couple of examples :

 

They don't encourage closing borders or limiting flights at all because it impedes the movement of the WHO and medical personnel who come first, no matter what.

 

They don't encourage people to wear masks because they're in short supply and they want them for themselves and medics - so they lie about how well they work instead of keeping stockpiles. This results in more victims.

 

It's not acceptable.

Edited June 9, 20206 yr by ukrules

40 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

But, I can not go to the store, or mall, or park, or anywhere in my condo without wearing a mask, so Is this doctor trying to say Thailand was misinformed in the beginning and only now the WHO says to wear one.  So f.......confused.  Must I wear a condom when I have sex with my wife, or has the WHO said I do not need one....

lol, comparing protecting yourself from a virus and impregnating your wife .  Yes wear a mask to protect others and yourself, wear a condom to protect the planet from overpopulation - common sense ✌️????

Edited June 9, 20206 yr by Skallywag

27 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Those Idiots are now called Anti Maskers.  They follow the same as the anti Vaccers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-maskers-say-they-cant-wear-masks-because-medical-conditions-2020-5

 

But doctors say various conditions don't excuse people from wearing masks, but rather emphasize the importance of wearing one correctly.

hahahha anti masker that's clever. 

 

More and more Thais have quit wearing masks....Its good to see people coming to their senses about the health risks of wearing masks....

Masks may save marriages and relationships:  Once you can communicate with your wife, your girlfriend, or your potential girlfriend using only your eyes,  there is no need to learn to speak their language.  ????????????

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

But, I can not go to the store, or mall, or park, or anywhere in my condo without wearing a mask, so Is this doctor trying to say Thailand was misinformed in the beginning and only now the WHO says to wear one.  So f.......confused.  Must I wear a condom when I have sex with my wife, or has the WHO said I do not need one....

Maybe you should consult your wife about this "sensitive" issue. She may have better information for you... ????

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Men jeg kan ikke gå til butikken, kjøpesenter eller parkere, eller hvor som helst i leiligheten min uten å ha maske, så prøver denne legen å si at Thailand ble feilinformert i begynnelsen, og først nå sier WHO å ha på seg en. Så f ....... forvirret. Må jeg ha kondom når jeg har sex med min kone, eller har WHO sagt at jeg ikke trenger et ...

You also have to have sex in Dog - Stile , and don`t look on eachother ! ( Very importent )

Edited June 9, 20206 yr by LEXUS 400

WHO has been fairly useless. Even getting information has been handled by private parties like worldometer. It's representative of what UN has become: a daycare home for aging bureaucrats.

4 hours ago, Guderian said:

Most of the world seems to have got the message now, in spite of the WHO. That is, apart from the UK and USA, and all the idiots who think it's their democratic right to infect other people. 

Guaranteed some numpty will get the dig in on the first page, whether the topic is corona or tiddlywinks. Keep wearing your masks in vain, plebs, you're going to get it eventually anyway, unless one of the above countries saves you with the vaccine.

I’m currently in a country Australia with virtually no cases and zero community spread. Almost no one has worn masks from the start. 
 

NZ removed all restrictions this week because zero cases. Very low mask usage throughout. 
 

Masks are one response in myriad responses to try and reduce spread but this doctor is simply trying to do a victory lap “I told you so”. 
 

 

11 hours ago, Guderian said:

Most of the world seems to have got the message now, in spite of the WHO. That is, apart from the UK and USA, and all the idiots who think it's their democratic right to infect other people. 

+1

WHO was certainly remiss at the start if they are now advising to wear masks .

AND they caused serious friction between our beloved health minister Anutin  and the Farang who wouldnt listen to him , sadly ...

 

The travel budget for WHO last year was 200 million US dollar 

12 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

But, I can not go to the store, or mall, or park, or anywhere in my condo without wearing a mask, so Is this doctor trying to say Thailand was misinformed in the beginning and only now the WHO says to wear one.  So f.......confused.  Must I wear a condom when I have sex with my wife, or has the WHO said I do not need one....

In the bedroom as long as you sign in or QR no need to wear a mask.????

Its anally retentive dicks like this Doc that get the attention of the <deleted> psudo-government that ends up punishing 70 million people who deserve a break from driving around on their scooters wearing a mask in 40c weather with no covid around.  

For many around the world (including those on this forum) it's better to wear a mask (I'm not in favor of it myself, they're full of your own bacteria... bah!) because for the simple reason; "They are too UGLY". No offense, reader, it's not personal... but it makes sense too, doesn't it?  ????????

10 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

In the bedroom as long as you sign in or QR no need to wear a mask.????

But do I have to answer the 4 questions associated with signing out.  You Know was there sanitizer, was social distancing used and well you know....it will be hell if those are the rules for a bar and short time or even longtime....lol

The WHO is just another corrupt UN organization whose main purpose seems to be wasting (stealing) money while mouthing whatever platitudes the people behind the scenes want the world to hear.

Tedros, the current leader of the WHO, isn't even a doctor. He's an Ethiopian politician who only got the job because China pushed for it (gee, I wonder why). 

The same China that uses it's influence to prevent Taiwan from becoming a member. 194 countries are members and 2 (Puerto Rico and Tokelau) are Associate Members. But not Taiwan.
<deleted> - the Vatican, Palestine and the "Order of Malta" all have Observer status, which was the best Taiwan was able to get - until 2016 when they lost even that (because of China).

There was a petition started months ago to have Tedros removed from the WHO. It had over a million signatures and of course was ignored by the UN. Of course, as soon as the calls to remove Tedros started, he immediately whipped out his "race card" and claimed that (his race) was the reason people wanted him removed.

(Keep in mind that there were no calls for his removal from the time he was appointed in 2017 until early 2020 when it was apparent he was nothing more than an apologist for - and co-conspirator with - the Chinese.) Funny how his "race" wasn't an issue until people wanted him removed.

Tedros, in addition to his incompetence (and/or corruption) of the covid situation, is also the same <deleted> that appointed Robert Mugabe as a WHO "Goodwill Ambassador" ! (He later reversed the appointment after facing heavy criticism in the media.) Goes to show you how he thinks though.

Sadly, a senior member of the WHO from Canada also apparently kow-tows to the Chinese. During a telephone interview with a reporter, Bruce Aylward pretended he didn't hear a question about Taiwan. When the reporter repeated the question, it seems Aylward hung up on him ! When the reporter called back and asked about Taiwan again, Aylward is quoted as saying "We've already talked about China" and ended the interview.

The Canadian government tried (twice) to conduct a teleconference with Aylward and he declined both times. The House then voted (unanimously) to summon him to appear before them. 
Tedros engaged a lawyer to represent the WHO in declining the summons !! He stated that Aylward would only answer written answers. I guess that was so that he wouldn't accidentally "spill the beans" and admit to what was really going on at the WHO.

Who the <deleted> do they think they are ? 

If I were in a position to do so, I'd have also pulled financial support from the WHO as well. That seems to be about the only way to get their attention.
The UN itself is a model of corruption and incompetence. I never paid much attention to them until I was on a Peace Keeping mission in Croatia in '92/93. That was the first time I was exposed to just how bad things were. Not to mention their lack of balls.

We'd actually been in theatre for almost 3 months when the UN passed a Resolution authorizing us (Peace Keepers) to return fire if someone shot at us !! For the first 9 months we had people in Croatia (I was on the 2nd Roto, another unit had been there for 6 months prior to our arrival) the UN apparently didn't think we should shoot back if anyone shot at us for any reason !!
There were cartoons in the papers showing a massive "UN" Tiger ready to pounce on a little Milosevic, except he wasn't worried at all because the tiger had no teeth or claws (and no willingness to use either even if it had them). 

The WHO has waffled and flip-flopped through this entire crisis. They have no authority and apparently merely repeat whatever someone else (that's pulling their strings) tells them to. 
At this point in time, I wouldn't have any faith in anything they say. 
 

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

He's right and the WHO is full of shlt, especially Tedros.

 

The WHO do things that suit them, a couple of examples :

 

They don't encourage closing borders or limiting flights at all because it impedes the movement of the WHO and medical personnel who come first, no matter what.

 

They don't encourage people to wear masks because they're in short supply and they want them for themselves and medics - so they lie about how well they work instead of keeping stockpiles. This results in more victims.

 

It's not acceptable.

Your first sentence diluted the post b using one crude and juvenile word as an introduction. 

Whether or not they are effective we’ll probably never know for sure but I think there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest they slow down the spread. Asian countries where it is quite normal and widespread to wear masks seem to have fared better than the west and I don’t believe it’s because of the different testing regimes in place. 

Will they ultimately prevent infection? Possibly not but will it help slow the infection rates? Probably yes. I personally think this was another issue WHO farked up on. One of many. I think Thailand, through previous outbreak experiences, has been well ahead of some of their richer western counterparts and have a fairly advanced medical research facility to deal with it. I’ve had dealings with it over the past few years as my sister in law works with test vaccines in Bangkok and I have helped her with some of the reports she has written. Pretty <deleted> hot work they are doing. I’d believe Thai recommendations before those from the BG foundation and WHO. 

World Hack Organization

2 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

Whether or not they are effective we’ll probably never know for sure but I think there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest they slow down the spread. Asian countries where it is quite normal and widespread to wear masks seem to have fared better than the west and I don’t believe it’s because of the different testing regimes in place. 

Will they ultimately prevent infection? Possibly not but will it help slow the infection rates? Probably yes. I personally think this was another issue WHO farked up on. One of many. I think Thailand, through previous outbreak experiences, has been well ahead of some of their richer western counterparts and have a fairly advanced medical research facility to deal with it. I’ve had dealings with it over the past few years as my sister in law works with test vaccines in Bangkok and I have helped her with some of the reports she has written. Pretty <deleted> hot work they are doing. I’d believe Thai recommendations before those from the BG foundation and WHO. 

Dude, really, if you mixed 50 infected in a room with 50 uninfected... if you think the results are gonna turn out better with no masks, that is not using the ild noodle very well. 

WHO has made mistakes. Most countrie's health authorities have made mistakes. Hopefully as new information becomes clear mistakes can be corrected. 

 

However I think the wave of anti WHO rhetoric is self defeating. 

 

Reform for sure. Study the mistakes and learn from them for the future. 

 

But right now we are in the middle of a pandemic. There will be future pandemics 

 

Pandemics need to be solved at a global level. 

 

For that to happen we do need international coordination. 

 

Even an extreme case of virus free New Zealand is not truly out of woods as long as there are countries such as Brazil facing rapidly rising cases. 

 

Don't throw the WHO baby out with the bathwater. 

Edited June 10, 20206 yr by Jingthing

This Thai doctor could be very wrong.

 

Latest data suggests that asymptomatic carriers rarely spread the virus. As such the initial position of the WHO was correct and wearing masks is unnecessary.

 

Study of 455 contacts of one asymptomatic carrier found not a single one was infected:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7219423/

 

"We have a number of reports from countries who are doing very detailed contact tracing. They're following asymptomatic cases, they're following contacts and they're not finding secondary transmission onward. It is very rare -- and much of that is not published in the literature," she said. 

 

"We are constantly looking at this data and we're trying to get more information from countries to truly answer this question. It still appears to be rare that an asymptomatic individual actually transmits onward."

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/08/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread-who-bn/index.html

 

Edited June 10, 20206 yr by Logosone