Conscript Killed In Meningitis Outbreak

[george]

Conscript killed in meningitis outbreak

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- Young army conscripts in Thailand's upper southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan are facing a fortnight’s quarantine after the death of one of their members from meningococcal meningitis.

Private Kriengkrai Somlook, 21, is thought to have contracted the deadly bacteria from a Myanmar labourer.

Today the province’s chief public health official, Dr. Phiphop Jensuthiwechakul, said that laboratory analysis was being conducted to determine the exact cause of death of the young conscript, who was carrying out his national service at a local army flying base.

Everyone who had recently been in contact with the conscript will be quarantined for a fortnight, to help prevent the spread of infection.

The bacteria which causes the disease is contracted easily, particularly through the shared use of crockery and cutlery.

Meningococcal meningitis is extremely rare in Thailand, with only 31-72 suspected cases reported between 1994 and 2003.

--TNA 2005-06-09

[george]

Public told not to fear over outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government has stepped up measures to prevent mcningococcal meningitis from spreading and the public need not panic, a senior Public Health Ministry official has said.

"The public need not panic. But they must seek medical attention if they develop a high fever and red spots appearing on their bodies,” said Dr. Thawat Suntrajarn, the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control.

His remarks followed doctors in the country's southern seaside resort town of Prachup Khiri Khan confirmed a death from the disease earlier this week.

An unidentified solider, a recruit at Airbase 53, died at Prachub Kirikhan Hospital on Thursday.

Before his death, the soldier suffered severe head aches, vomiting and a stiff neck.

He is the first patient in the province with the disease.

Relatives in nearby Phetchaburi and his colleagues have been put under quarantine for two weeks, said Dr. Thawat.

Another 50 soldiers who slept in the same room as the dead man had their blood tested for signs of the infection.

The test results were not immediately available, but Dr. Thawat said all soldiers looked in good health.

Mcningococcal meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of both the brain and the spinal cord caused by bacteria and often fatal.

The indigenous disease is not common in Thailand, spreading by coughing and sneezing.

In 2004, some 50 Thai people were infected, with four fatalities, Dr. Thawat said.

Since early 2005, 22 people have been infected with two deaths.

--TNA 2005-06-11