Report Deadly Sandfly Disease Sparks Health Warning in Thailand

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

In an urgent health advisory, Thai authorities are warning residents and travellers about the resurgence of Leishmaniasis, a rare yet potentially fatal disease spread by common sandflies. This year, the disease has resulted in over 40 reported cases, claiming the lives of two individuals—one each in Bangkok and Songkhla—as confirmed by Thailand's Department of Disease Control.

 

Dr Jurai Wongsawat, a senior medical specialist and health ministry spokesperson, announced that the most recent patient is a foreign traveller from the Middle East. Though Leishmaniasis is not new to Thailand, having been present since 1996, it remains a significant health threat if left untreated.

 

“Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic infection transmitted by sandflies and not by direct skin contact,” Dr Jurai pointed out, likening preventative measures to those used against dengue fever. Precautions such as avoiding bites are crucial.

 

 

 

The disease manifests in two forms: mild and severe. Mild symptoms may include small skin bumps, treatable with medication. In contrast, severe cases see the parasite attacking internal organs, leading to chronic fever, pale skin, an enlarged spleen, and potentially death. Dr Jurai highlighted the unpredictable incubation period, advising immediate medical testing and treatment upon symptom onset.

 

Thailand's warm climate fosters a thriving environment for insect-borne diseases, prompting officials to promote preventive measures. The public is urged to wear protective clothing, use insect repellent, and maintain clean environments to fend off sandfly bites.

 

Dr Jurai emphasised that while dengue fever often dominates public attention, Leishmaniasis is a formidable vector-borne threat that must not be overlooked. “Protecting yourself from insect bites is essential, regardless of how rare the disease might seem,” she concluded, marking an essential step in safeguarding public health in Thailand.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-04-25

 

 

 

[steven100]

always hated sandflies ....   stinging little critters .....    100 million of them in Australia.

[johng]

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

[Puccini]

2 hours ago, johng said:

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

 

What does Ivermectin have to do with this topic?

[johng]

It is a very effective and safe anti parasitic medication..look it up  on your favourite Google search.

[Magictoad]

2 hours ago, johng said:

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

Try a pharmacy or hospital 

[johng]

Just now, Magictoad said:

Try a pharmacy or hospital 

Ok thanks I thought perhaps I had to go to a veterinarian  as per CDC  propaganda. 😋

[Puccini]

3 minutes ago, johng said:

It is a very effective and safe anti parasitic medication..look it up  on your favourite Google search.

 

According to the news, article Dr Jurai Wongsawat recommends an insect repellent as a protective measure against sandfly bites, not Ivermectin.

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In an urgent health advisory, Thai authorities are warning residents and travellers about the resurgence of Leishmaniasis, a rare yet potentially fatal disease spread by common sandflies. This year, the disease has resulted in over 40 reported cases, claiming the lives of two individuals—one each in Bangkok and Songkhla—as confirmed by Thailand's Department of Disease Control.

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. This is just ridiculous. Maybe there's an mRNA vaccine in the pipeline.

[Puccini]

32 minutes ago, johng said:

It is a very effective and safe anti parasitic medication..look it up  on your favourite Google search.

 

This was my Google search:

https://www.google.com/search?q=treatment+of+leishmaniasis+in+humans&oq=treatment+of+leishmaniasis+in+humans&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDggAEEUYJxg7GIAEGIoFMg4IABBFGCcYOxiABBiKBTINCAEQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAIQABiGAxiABBiKBTIKCAMQABiABBiiBDIKCAQQABiABBiiBDIKCAUQABiABBiiBDIKCAYQABiABBiiBDIKCAcQABiABBiiBNIBCTEyMzU1ajBqN6gCCLACAfEFQ632BzJdmHk&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

None of the search results on the first page mention Ivermectin for treating leishmaniasis in humans.

 

Also the WHO report "Control of the leishmaniasis", which can be downloaded at 

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-TRS-949

does not mention Ivermectin for treating leishmaniasis in humans.

Personally, I would recommend following the advice of Dr Jurai Wongsawat mentioned in the OP:

Quote

Dr Jurai highlighted the unpredictable incubation period, advising immediate medical testing and treatment upon symptom onset.

 

[Will B Good]

3 hours ago, johng said:

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

 

Why.........I thought these things were just caused by poor life style.....it is just a condition not a disease......there are no pathogens.

[LittleBear57]

For years I carried a card saying I had been exposed to a type of this disease, whilst in the jungles of central America. Thought I'd heard the last of it. Hate sand flies. I found insect repellant less effective against sand flies hope it's improved over the years if this becomes more prevalent. 

[Patong2021]

14 hours ago, johng said:

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

That is not the appropriate medication. The disease  is caused by parasites which enter the body. You have to kill the parasites. If  they are visible in the skin,  destroying their 'nest" helps. However, the most common treatment is with miltefosine.

This infection was common to the  personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, so  treatments are well tested over the years.

[Patong2021]

11 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. This is just ridiculous. Maybe there's an mRNA vaccine in the pipeline.

 

Vaccine  isn't going to be effective because it is a parasitic disease.

[newbee2022]

14 hours ago, johng said:

Where can we get some Ivermectin from ?

Ask Donald. He stores loads of it from last disease somewhere.

[KhunLA]

@Puccini 

I wouldn't trust anything the CDC states anymore.   They don't seem to recommend any inexpensive treatments, just high end big pharma drugs ... IMHO

 

Ivermectin apparently can be used, certainly wouldn't hurt to try it.

 

 

CDC doesn't recommend eye drops, Pirenoxine, to treat cataracts, and is actually banned for use in USA for humans.   But no problem for you pets.  Can't let the docs lose that income for cataract surgery.  Lost profits.

 

I'm using for my cataract, and seems to be working, stopping the progression.

 

@johng probably only if in USA, would you need to go to vet to get it.   If in TH, it's available at pharmacy, at least at our local one, and this is a small town.

 

@Patong2021 Ivermectin kills quite a few different parasites ... "Ivermectin is an anti parasitic drug" - wiki

[dinsdale]

33 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Vaccine  isn't going to be effective because it is a parasitic disease.

Some of us I guess just don't have a sense of humour and are way, way too serious. Fact remains though this is just alarmist nonsense. 

[Sam555]

I remember in the early lockdown days all the pharmacies had ivermectin. Now none of them sell it. Strange that 🤔

 

Does anyone know where it can be bought OTC? There are reports on X that it can help against C

[johng]

11 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Why.........I thought these things were just caused by poor life style.....it is just a condition not a disease......there are no pathogens.

 

I think you have me confused with someone else.

 

@KhunLA  thanks. 👍

[johng]

50 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

That is not the appropriate medication. The disease  is caused by parasites which enter the body. You have to kill the parasites.

 

Ivermectin is a very good anti parasitic medication...do some of your own research but here is just a little clue.

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2015/press-release/

 

[johng]

16 minutes ago, Sam555 said:

I remember in the early lockdown days all the pharmacies had ivermectin. Now none of them sell it. Strange that 🤔

 

Pharmacies in Thailand ???

[PeterA]

13 hours ago, johng said:

It is a very effective and safe anti parasitic medication..look it up  on your favourite Google search.

What about shining a light up your butt?

[johng]

1 minute ago, PeterA said:

What about shining a light up your butt?

 

Are you volunteering ?

[KhunLA]

6 minutes ago, johng said:

Pharmacies in Thailand ???

In TH, they may have to order, but it is available.  In pill form, for humans. 

 

Below a conversation I had with wife, while at the pharmacy.  'pet' is a typo, should read 'per'

 

And that's a photo of my dog, as background, and has nothing to do with content of the conversation.

 

And the top part of conversation is my calculation on dosage, grams per kilo of lean body weight.

 

[dinsdale]

13 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

What does Ivermectin have to do with this topic?

Billions of Ivermectin pills have been taken to battle parasitic infections. Indeed it's the primary function of the drug. How can you not know this after all that's happened? I guess you believed the "it's a horse drug" narrative.

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

I wouldn't trust anything the CDC states

Well, trust yourself only. All this stupid science stuff. Be your own scientist. Believe only x, TikTok, Facebook or Google, but not experienced qualified doctors. They have no better knowledge than you🤣.

Is it this what you want to express? Well done🙏😂

[Sam555]

47 minutes ago, johng said:

 

Pharmacies in Thailand ???

Yes

[johng]

39 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

experienced qualified doctors

 

Just because they wear a white coat doesn't mean they are always right or have your best interest at heart  or that you have to blindly do whatever they say.

[dinsdale]

42 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, trust yourself only. All this stupid science stuff. Be your own scientist. Believe only x, TikTok, Facebook or Google, but not experienced qualified doctors. They have no better knowledge than you🤣.

Is it this what you want to express? Well done🙏😂

Experienced, qualified doctors/scientists on Big Pharma's payroll. Tell me why these should be believed over truly independent scientists and doctors. 

[KhunLA]

45 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, trust yourself only. All this stupid science stuff. Be your own scientist. Believe only x, TikTok, Facebook or Google, but not experienced qualified doctors. They have no better knowledge than you🤣.

Is it this what you want to express? Well done🙏😂

I don't trust organizations the have millions, if not billions of $$$ given to them, that ignore alternative treatments vs expensive big pharma recommendations.

 

Just a little common sense, and yes, due diligence on one's own research, before subjecting yourself to vaccines, drugs, approved or experimental that have known side effects.

 

Money corrupts ... remember, these are some of the same folks, that stated 'safe & effective', 'masks work' & 'men can be women'