Residents in tsunami-hit areas warned of possible diseases

BANGKOK: -- Local residents in Thailand’s six southern provinces hit by tsunami waves last week have been warned to be prepared for the possible outbreak of malaria, dengue fever and other waterborne diseases, according to senior medical experts.

Doctors from the Red Cross Society of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine said there was a very real possibility of an outbreak of

leptospirosis, tetanus, respiratory diseases, cholera and Hepatitis B and C in the disaster hit areas in the next two month's time.

The warnings were made at a seminar in Bangkok on Wednesday.

People with infected wounds and high fever should immediately seek medical attention, Assoc. Prof. Dr Phanphis Suwannakool said.

The tsunami-hit areas in the six provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun--are very vulnerable to the potential spread of malaria -- six to eight times greater that in normal times – in the next two months, she said.

Residents were also warned against direct contact with dead bodies becase they could pass disease onto people, Dr. Phanphis.

HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses in infected corpses can survive up to six days after the bodies have completely decomposed.

However, most germs die shortly afterwards.

--TNA 2005-01-07

Residents in tsunami-hit areas warned of possible diseases

BANGKOK: -- Local residents in Thailand’s six southern provinces hit by tsunami waves last week have been warned to be prepared for the possible outbreak of malaria, dengue fever and other waterborne diseases, according to senior medical experts.

Doctors from the Red Cross Society of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine said there was a very real possibility of an outbreak of

leptospirosis, tetanus, respiratory diseases, cholera and Hepatitis B and C in the disaster hit areas in the next two month's time.

The warnings were made at a seminar in Bangkok on Wednesday.

People with infected wounds and high fever should immediately seek medical attention, Assoc. Prof. Dr Phanphis Suwannakool said.

The tsunami-hit areas in the six provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun--are very vulnerable to the potential spread of malaria -- six to eight times greater that in normal times – in the next two months, she said.

Residents were also warned against direct contact with dead bodies becase they could pass disease onto people, Dr. Phanphis.

HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses in infected corpses can survive up to six days after the bodies have completely decomposed.

However, most germs die shortly afterwards.

--TNA 2005-01-07

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Did you want to add something andy50 ? Can't see a text...

Hi there George,

Many thanks for your excellent precis of the news from Thailand, which I have been following with interest. Like everyone else I am grieved and horrified by what has been happening in the areas affected by the Tsunami and it is good to have local news (I'm in the UK).

One teeny tiny beef, however - your avatar is really rather annoying and distracting. Any chance you could change it, or at least slow the blink speed a bit?

Thanks.

The tsunami-hit areas in the six provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun--are very vulnerable to the potential spread of malaria -- six to eight times greater that in normal times – in the next two months, she said.

A bit surpised to hear this as I thought that mosquitos donot lay egss in salt water and raining season is at least 2 months away.

One does have to be very careful eating things as not all water used is clean so I limit myself to drinking beer/sprite. Or at least things from a tin.

What can be a real problem is infections. I ended up with one in a foot and a friend who got hurt due to the wave tried to find his baby back and infected himself so badly that he ended up with gangrene in hospital and died....

So be very very careful if you have any open wounds or have to mess around in the mud.

Waiting for water and then my shop will be clean...

Residents in tsunami-hit areas warned of possible diseases

BANGKOK: -- Local residents in Thailand’s six southern provinces hit by tsunami waves last week have been warned to be prepared for the possible outbreak of malaria, dengue fever and other waterborne diseases, according to senior medical experts.

Doctors from the Red Cross Society of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine said there was a very real possibility of an outbreak of

leptospirosis, tetanus, respiratory diseases, cholera and Hepatitis B and C in the disaster hit areas in the next two month's time.

The warnings were made at a seminar in Bangkok on Wednesday.

People with infected wounds and high fever should immediately seek medical attention, Assoc. Prof. Dr Phanphis Suwannakool said.

The tsunami-hit areas in the six provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun--are very vulnerable to the potential spread of malaria -- six to eight times greater that in normal times – in the next two months, she said.

Residents were also warned against direct contact with dead bodies becase they could pass disease onto people, Dr. Phanphis.

HIV and Hepatitis B and C viruses in infected corpses can survive up to six days after the bodies have completely decomposed.

However, most germs die shortly afterwards.

--TNA 2005-01-07

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would be interested to know how this is information is being relayed to the tourist who are still going to these areas.Probably not.

Residents in tsunami-hit areas warned of possible diseases

BANGKOK: -- Local residents in Thailand’s six southern provinces hit by tsunami waves last week have been warned to be prepared for the possible outbreak of malaria, dengue fever and other waterborne diseases, according to senior medical experts.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would be interested to know how this is information is being relayed to the tourist who are still going to these areas.Probably not.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The gist of it is already in the UK FCO advice to travellers to Thailand.

Alert sounded over bird flu

WHO also warns against malaria, dengue, dirty water

The World Health Organisation yesterday warned tsunami-torn countries to be on high alert for health threats emerging in the wake of the disaster, including a possible recurrence of avian flu.

Although the risk of avian flu re-emerging after the tsunami disaster is not great, a risk is always present when people are living together in an overcrowded shelter, said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, the director for the WHO’s Southeast Asia regional office.

He said governments should ensure that all measures were in place that were required to detect, alert and tackle possible epidemics as well as health threats that might come after the disaster.

The bird-flu surveillance system needs to be strengthened, and as a precautionary measure survivors living in overcrowded shelters would be better protected if they received a vaccination against human influenza, Samlee said.

Areas of greater health concern, he said, are people facing a widespread shortage of clean water and poor sanitation. Malaria and dengue fever have been reported in some of the affected areas.

Cholera is one of the most common water-borne diseases to occur after a tidal-wave disaster, he said. “We are not yet in the aftermath stage of this disaster. Even though the flood has receded, disease can still inundate millions of people in the region.”

Psychological problems among survivors were another major concern, said WHO representative to Thailand Dr William Aldis.

“Mental conditions are even more severe than physical problems,” Samlee said.

To meet these challenges, the WHO is deploying more experts in disaster response and logistics, disease surveillance and water sanitation. Steps are being taken to train a corps of healthcare workers who can help individuals cope with the psychosocial trauma dealt them by one of the world’s greatest natural disasters.

--The Nation 2005-01-08