Dengue Fever About To Invade NE Part Of Thailand

[Jai Dee]

Dengue Fever about to invade NE part of Thailand

The 5th Disease Prevention and Control Office in Nakhon Ratchasima Province reports that dengue fever will prevail this year. Already 488 patients of dengue fever have been detected in the area.

Director of the 5th Disease Prevention and Control Office, Md.Somchai Tangsuphachai (สมชาย ตั้งสุภาชัย) says all provinces in the Northeastern region have high tendencies to be hit hard by dengue fever this year as the office has just detected the first strain of dengue fever in the region. In addition, the director says almost all communities in the region also have the high amount of larvae which are carriers of dengue fever, especially in municipality areas and villages.

The office reports that there have been 118 dengue fever patients in Nakhon Ratchasima, 255 in Surin, 35 in Buri Ram, and 80 in Chaiyaphum since the beginning of this year.

The director strongly suggests that those who experience continuous high fever, headache, nauseate, and red spots on the skin should go to see physicians or the nearest public health station immediately.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 June 2007

[ronthompson]

Does any one know how long the Dengue fever shot is good for?

the old gasser

"today is yesterday's tomorrow!"

[Gary A]

Does any one know how long the Dengue fever shot is good for?

the old gasser

"today is yesterday's tomorrow!"

Sorry my friend. There is no shot available nor is there any immunity after you have had it. I can tell you first hand that it is no fun to have.

[macb]

THanks for the information Jai Dee :

Heres a link for folks to read up on the Subject if interested

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001374.htm

[phibunmike]

Does any one know how long the Dengue fever shot is good for?

the old gasser

"today is yesterday's tomorrow!"

Sorry my friend. There is no shot available nor is there any immunity after you have had it. I can tell you first hand that it is no fun to have.

Gary is right. Also, after first infection, you are MORE likely to get the more severe form (so I am told - no reference for this statement).

Curiously, the Thai adult population appears to have developed some form of resistance, so hopefully any major outbreak will not take hold as strongly as it might in other countries (e.g. Singapore lat year).

There may be a dengue shot out soon, as a couple of companies have them in clinical trials - the difficulty for the people developing the vaccines is that dengue has four different viral strains, and so is hard to tackle.

Reference for the last two paragraphs is a documentary on BBC World recently, plus my own experiences in Singapore.

All they do in hospital is what I believe is called palliative care - hydration by IV and treatment for shock if required (due to internal bleeding).

Cheers,

Mike

[Prakanong]

"There may be a dengue shot out soon, as a couple of companies have them in clinical trials - the difficulty for the people developing the vaccines is that dengue has four different viral strains, and so is hard to tackle."

Yeah there are a number of vaccine trials running at the moment with candidate vaccines - quite early stage though. Some more starting soon in Thailand.

It is problematic as you say due to the different strans plus added complications of how much to deliver to people already with antigens of one of the 4 sub-types.

As for vaccine soon - depends how you define soon but I would guess the malaria vaccine will be out first and thats looking like 2010/2011.

[Aujuba]

Just an important note:

"Some common over-the-counter medicines may cause Dengue to become very strong and, sometimes, lethal. Medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen, commonly sold as headache remedies, increase the risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Any medication containing acetylsalicyclic acid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents should be avoided. Paracetamol (acetominophen) is often used instead to manage the fever and pain."

From the mouth of a Thai doc, this is why paracetamol is used more in Thailand.

So avoid aspirin if you think you've got it.

Link to quote http://wikitravel.org/en/Dengue

Edited June 5, 2007 by Aujuba

[phibunmike]

Just an important note:

"Some common over-the-counter medicines may cause Dengue to become very strong and, sometimes, lethal. Medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen, commonly sold as headache remedies, increase the risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Any medication containing acetylsalicyclic acid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents should be avoided. Paracetamol (acetominophen) is often used instead to manage the fever and pain."

From the mouth of a Thai doc, this is why paracetamol is used more in Thailand.

So avoid aspirin if you think you've got it.

Link to quote http://wikitravel.org/en/Dengue

That makes sense - any blood thinning agent should be avoided if you have a haemorrhagic disorder...

[Jai Dee]

Dengue war looms

Public Health Ministry provincial "war rooms" will destroy mosquito breeding areas on a weekly basis during the dengue-fever danger period. The disease has killed 10 this year and infected 10,000.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot yesterday visited a hill-tribe village in Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai where about 5 per cent of its 2,000 residents have been infected since January. Prat said officials fumigated 500 homes. Doctors will test residents over the coming two weeks.

Meanwhile, dozens of new cases are detected daily. Hospitals are offering free testing, he added.

Nationally, 9,245 cases have been detected and 10 people have died since January. That is a 17 per cent increase in infections from the same period last year when nine people died.

Central provinces account for 40 per cent of infections followed by the South, with 25 per cent. In Bangkok, 1,612 cases and one death have been recorded. Pom Prab district is the worst with 60 infections for every 100,000 people.

Source: The Nation - 05 June 2007

[Gary A]

It's probably worth adding my experience with Dengue. It started out with an aching in my joints followed by a severe headache. It progressed to a VERY high fever that had me sweating one minute and shaking the next minute. A nurse friend came to the house to have a look at me. She told me that I had to go to the hospital as soon as possible. I asked her what would happen if I were to stay home and she replied that I would die. I went to the hospital. All the time I was eating aspirins like candy and they were doing me very little if any good. After the doctor looked at me he asked me what I was doing for the headache. I told him I was taking aspirin. That immediately led to more tests and another IV. The doctor assured me that I had no internal problems at all because if I had had an ulcer or similar problem that I would be dead for sure. Apparently my blood count was in the very dangerous area. After three days my blood count started to improve and I went home the fourth day. I was quite weak for quite sometime after being able to go home.

The only way to protect yourself is to avoid as much as possible being bitten by mosquitoes.

[cathyy]

Glad I'm not one for the great outdoors in general. Glad I keep all the windows and doors shut to keep out the stuff that triggers my allergies. It wasn't for no reason that my mother referred to me as a "houseplant." Think I might rethink the visit to Pattaya a friend wants my husband and me to take.

Edited June 5, 2007 by cathyy

[Lickey]

Try this thread in the Health and Medicine forum,

Mosquito Repellents...

I use the Dettol,Oliveoil mix, about 50/50, havent been bitten for a few weeks now, just put it in a diffuser spray bottle and spray it on, even where clothes fit tight, socks, elbows, ect, really works well.

Prevention is better than cure, Cheers, Lickey.

[Jai Dee]

Grave dengue fever to spread across NE this year

Sakon Nakhon Province reports 99 dengue fever patients while a public health physician expresses concern over the dengue fever situation of this year.

The Sakon Nakhon Public Health Office warns residents to be aware of dengue fever which can be fatal although no death from the disease has been reported in the province during the previous years. The office suggests the residents to destroy sources of larvae in residences, schools, and temples.

Public Health Physician of Sakon Nakhon, Charat Wasuthada (ชรัตน์ วสุธาดา) reveals that the majority of the 99 dengue fever patients were found in Song Dao (ส่องดาว), Waritchaphum, (วาริชภูมิ), Mueang Sakon Nakhon, and Sawang Daen Din (สว่างแดนดิน) districts. The physician says there had been no dengue fever patients in such districts for many years and most of the patients found are teenagers and adults.

The public health office has therefore imposed special measures to prevent and control dengue fever. Parents and guardians of little children are suggested to prevent them from being stung by mosquitoes and clean water containers every seven days. It has also asked for cooperation from communities to destroy larvae sources and continuously inform the residents of the latest dengue fever situation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 June 2007

[blue eyes]

Got a little worried for a little bit after reading this.We live 70 km north of Korat.Our little girl 16mo old had high temp and then rash....oooo crap!!!But it turned out to only be german measels ( roseola ) ahhhhhhhhhh

[Jai Dee]

Sakon Nakhon reports 26 dengue fever patients

Sakon Nakhon Province detects 26 dengue fever patients in the municipality area while provincial officials from various government units join hand to prevent the pandemic.

Director of the Sakon Nakhon Hospital, Md.Phichart Donchalermyutthana (พิชาติ ดลเฉลิมยุทธนา), reports that most of the 26 patients are small children. He speculates that dengue fever has spread as the province has many submerged areas which are breeding sources of dengue mosquitoes.

Md.Phichart requests local people and provincial officials to actively prevent dengue fever during the ongoing rainy season by destroying mosquito lavaes.

The hospital director adds that dengue fever is preventable by avoiding dengue mosquitoes. He suggests the residents to add Abate sand granules which can kill mosquito larvae in water containers or clean the containers every seven days as advised by the Ministry of Public Health.

In addition, the director says the public health office will spray smoke continuously onto risky areas, especially residences, temples, and schools, to kill dengue mosquitoes.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Village Public Health Volunteers to actively prevent dengue fever

Deputy Public Health Minister Wallop Thaineua (วัลลภ ไทยเหนือ) instructs village public health volunteers to do their utmost to monitor and prevent dengue fever in their village.

Today (June, 15th) at 10.00 a.m. at Tambon Wang Kraphee (วังกระพี้) Public Health Station in Uttaradit Province, Md.Wallop has met with 1,000 village public health volunteers in Tha Pla (ท่าปลา), Lab Lae (ลับแล), and Mueang districts. He has extended his appreciation for their work and cooperation as well as delivered policies on the prevention of dengue fever which has severely hit the province during this period.

Uttaradit has 90 dengue fever patients and no death. Most of them are 10 – 14 years and were found in Phichai District. This year, the country has the total of 13,611 dengue fever patients or about 22 in every 100,000 people and 14 deaths.

The Ministry of Public Health says dengue fever’s spread this year is due to very hot weather which is suitable for the growth of dengue mosquito larvae.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2007

[bdenner]

2 farang from A. Ban Dung in the past 6 months one was diagnosed on his return to the UK for medical treatment after a bike accident here. Yesterday the boy 2 doors down from us was admitted to hospital with dengue fever. I realy don't know how effective it is but every few months or so we have contractors come through the village with foggers (I believe these things vapourise diesel oil).

[Gary A]

A while back I went to my favorite hardware store and was horrified to see a huge amount smoke pouring out of the shop. As I got closer I noticed people standing around doing nothing and no one seemed excited at all. I got out of my truck and soon caught a whiff of insecticide. They fogged every building in the village for mosquito control.

[barryofthailand]

My son just had Dengue fever. He was in the hospital in Pattaya for five days. Had a temp of 42.5 when I took him to the hospital. their are four types and he had the most common, Type one. I have been told that if you get it again it gets progresively worse. I can't imagine worse than he had it.

Barry