Govt steps up campaign to contain mosquito-borne diseases

SURAT THANI: -- The Thai government plans to distribute mosquito-resistant clothes to rubber tappers free of charge to try to help contain the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The Public Health Ministry decided to provide the clothes to the rubber workers in the country's southern province of Surat Thani after the number of patients suffering from malaria and dengue fever have increased to nearly 2,000.

The chemical-coated clothes will help protect the workers tapping the rubber trees in the early hours before dawn.

Government officials expect the measures will help substantially reduce the number of new patients infected with the mosquito-borne diseases.

Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul announced the scheme after meeting local officials in Surat Thani on Monday to discuss measures to fight the outbreak of the mosquito-borne diseases in the province.

The number of patients in the province is a third higher than expected, the minister said.

There are nearly 700 hundred dengue fever patients, two of whom have died, and more than 1,000 patients suffering from malaria.

Dr. Suchai told TNA that he had seen the situation first-hand and found that labourers from Myanmar working in the local rubber plantations were potential carriers.

--TNA 2005-07-04

Seems like to encourage the rubber industry rather than campaign to contain mosquito-borne diseases. Hope the mosquito-resistant clothes is effective and help substantially reduce the number of new patients infected with the malaria.