Report Phuket Syphilis Surge: Health Officials Urge STI Vigilance Amid Tourism Boom

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of The Phuket News

 

Phuket is grappling with an alarming rise in syphilis cases, with infections now confirmed across all three districts of the island province. The surge has prompted health officials to issue warnings, as it coincides with a resurgence in tourism and increased risky sexual behaviours.

 

During a recent briefing, Dr Kusuma Sawangphan, head of the Communicable Disease Control Group at the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), highlighted the vulnerability of youth to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) but stressed that anyone engaging in risky sexual practices is at risk.

 

The spike in STIs is being linked to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, enabling more social and sexual interactions, especially in areas popular with tourists, such as Patong. In response, Phuket health authorities have initiated a robust STI prevention campaign. This includes distributing free condoms and lubricants through both public and private healthcare facilities.

 

Residents and visitors can conveniently access condoms through digital channels, including the Krungthai Bank mobile app, as part of efforts to make safer practices more accessible. Additionally, free STI screenings are offered biannually at government hospitals for individuals deemed at risk, underscoring the significance of early detection. Dr Kusuma reiterated that consistent condom use is the most effective way to prevent not only syphilis but also other infections like gonorrhoea and HIV.

 

Syphilis typically begins with genital sores and, if untreated, can escalate to a full-body rash, potentially affecting the nervous system and proving fatal. The PPHO is collaborating with organisations such as the Andaman Power Phuket Association to engage high-risk communities. Health teams have been actively distributing condoms and promoting sexual health services at events, including the Miss Queen Andaman parade.

 

Outreach efforts are expanding into schools and recognised hotspots, aiming to enhance awareness and dismantle the stigma surrounding sexual health. Dr Kusuma emphasised the importance of providing access to information, testing, and treatment for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual identity, to curb the rising infection rates and protect public health.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-05

 

 

[madone]

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The spike in STIs is being linked to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, enabling more social and sexual interactions, especially in areas popular with tourists

umm ok.

 

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Residents and visitors can conveniently access condoms through digital channels, including the Krungthai Bank mobile app, as part of efforts to make safer practices more accessible.

intersted in seeing how that works out 

[Sorted2024]

Change in Tourism demographics might be in play here 

[factual monk]

😆 🤣 😂 😆 🤣 😂 😹 

[ronster]

Relaxing of COVID restrictions 🤔🤔🤔

[bkk6060]

Announcing this may cause a 1 or 2% increase in condoms use, but mostly people will continue with raw dog bareback. 

[MalcolmB]

A poll on this forum yesterday showed most of us don’t use condoms or get Thai girls tested before we have sex with them. 
 

The only thing surprising is there isn’t more of it.

 

I am off for an HIV test today.

 

[Cameroni]

I just got tested. No Syphillis.

 

It's not me.

[Aussie999]

Aren't tourist numbers down, I suspect it more to do with TAT encouraging tourists from, um, dare I say it.... India

[EVENKEEL]

The Drip. Yikes

[soalbundy]

If her pussy smells of curry just say no, you know it makes sense.

[impulse]

They need to hire YouTube's BushBarbie to do a PSA.

 

 

The woman's a national treasure.  Well worth a YT search if you've never heard of her.

 

[ravip]

8 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

If her pussy smells of curry just say no, you know it makes sense.

So, one gotta smell before going into action? LOL

[SAFETY FIRST]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket Syphilis Surge

Oh, that's not good news. 

 

[spidermike007]

One could probably make an argument that the industry is just as large amongst locals than it is amongst foreigners, so why are we being blamed yet again? Maybe they should stop calling us tourists and just start calling us VDDC's (very dangerous disease carriers).

 

 

[rumeaug]

The cherry on the sh*t-cake

[Iron Tongue]

Finally!

Phuket has something to rival Pattaya's strain of Super Gonorrhea!

Those two are so jealous of each other. 

[newbee2022]

A donation of that filthy riffraff from everywhere.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket is grappling with an alarming rise in syphilis cases, with infections now confirmed across all three districts of the island province. The surge has prompted health officials to issue warnings, as it coincides with a resurgence in tourism and increased risky sexual behaviours.

Russian roulette ?

[arick]

17 hours ago, madone said:

umm ok.

 

intersted in seeing how that works out 

Is it under go travel or go loans?

[wensiensheng]

“Outreach efforts are expanding into schools”

 

If they feel the need to reach out to Thai schools, it would suggest that tourists are NOT to blame.

 

They are however a convenient scapegoat for the VERY casual attitude of Thais toward sex.

 

As for COVID, wasn’t that all over a few years ago?

[Look Chang]

1 hour ago, ravip said:

So, one gotta smell before going into action? LOL

I always smell the pussy of a new partner before having sex !

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Aren't tourist numbers down, I suspect it more to do with TAT encouraging tourists from, um, dare I say it.... India

You may be correct, but there are some no doubt, not me, that will call that racist?

[Sydebolle]

A) this cannot be as Thailand has no prostitution as we are all told. 

B) Customers can conveniently access condoms through digital channels, including the Krungthai Bank mobile app. So much to diversification of a bank 😉

[natway09]

When TAT encourages every Tom, Dick & Harry from all sorts of dubious countries to come to Thailand for an extended holiday what do they expect ?????

 

[Grusa]

30 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

A) this cannot be as Thailand has no prostitution as we are all told. 

B) Customers can conveniently access condoms through digital channels, including the Krungthai Bank mobile app. So much to diversification of a bank 😉

Can someone please explain how KTB manages to squeeze condoms out of a mobile phone on demand?

[bluemoon58]

Those damn bloody tourists again! 

 

Of course it's nothing to do with the rather promiscuous ways of the Thais that I've been told about by a Thai "friend"!

[wwest5829]

Happy to have gotten my experience over a decade ago. Fat boy in the candy shop and such a positive experience firmly setting the Thailand hook in me. Grateful for having made it through unscathed as condoms were mostly avoided. Of course, my loves were all virgins so that cut down on the danger of illness (ha). Everything in moderation, my friend B. Franklin advised. Maybe rationalizing as I have only made love to two dozen females (half in Thailand) in my pushing 80 years. Happy camper with fond memories.

[Jiggo]

That's messed Pride Month up for some

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

You may be correct, but there are some no doubt, not me, that will call that racist?

They can call it what they like, I don't care... 555