Aliens Targeted For Disease Prevention

[george]

Aliens targeted for disease prevention

BANGKOK: -- The Disease Control Department is closely monitoring the spread of five diseases in provinces where immigrant workers from neighbouring countries are working.

Doctor Thawat Suntharajan, director-general of the Disease Control Department, speaking at a seminar on communicable diseases held at a hotel in this northern province, said that some immigrant workers were carriers of five diseases — malaria, tuberculosis, syphilis, Aids and elephantiasis.

“These are serious diseases spread from immigrant workers, who are carriers,” Thawat told the seminar.

He said employers must register immigrant workers so that the Public Health Ministry could monitor and control the spread.

Immigrants from neighbouring countries will be required to undergo medical check-ups this year before employers will be granted licenses to hire them.

He said that the spread of malaria is most alarming as it has spread rapidly to Thais, who now comprise 65 per cent of cases in the country.

Last week, the Public Health Ministry reported that the number of malaria cases surged in Chumphon, Surat Thani and Ranong. Of these provinces, Chumphon was the worst affected with a 140 per cent jump in reported cases. The province reported 465 cases last month, compared with 185 during the same period last year.

Somsak Akkasilp, director of the Disease Control Region 7 Office, said yesterday that this year a total of 140 malaria cases had been detected in Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket, which are in under his office’s jurisdiction. One victim has died.

Thawat added that his department was also cooperating with private organisations and other government agencies to try to stop the spread of diseases near the southern border.

He said the department is closely monitoring people who cross the southern border, fearing that they may be carrying the Nipah virus from Malaysia.

--The Nation 2005-06-16

[mnoorsapl]

"some immigrant workers were carriers of five diseases — malaria, tuberculosis, syphilis, Aids and elephantiasis."

...but majority carriers are Thais, when are they going to learn blaming it on the aliens does not solve the problem.

[opothai]

don't you just love these press releases, maybe rcky jervaise could pick up some valuable comedy material from these.

this is not thailand bashing, i love the thai people 'i married one' but i do not like the government misleading the people and treating them as if they are idiots they certainly are not

[Sphere]

...government agencies to try to stop the spread of diseases near the southern border...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gong purely by the change in scenery, cleanliness and orderliness, which you find on crossing the southern border, one would certainly have to be forgiven for thinking otherwise. But what do we know?