383 Cases Of Dengue Fever Year-To-Date In Phuket

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383 dengue cases in Phuket

An Aedes aegypti mosquito. GNU photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim.

PHUKET: -- There have been 383 cases of dengue fever year-to-date in Phuket, but no deaths, the Ministry of Public Health says.

Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, deputy director of the Phuket Public Health Office and an expert on the disease, said the 383 cases so far this year has already surpassed the total number of cases in 2009, when 309 were recorded all year.

The incidence rate ranks Phuket at number 20 out of Thailand’s 77 provinces, he said

That the disease is spreading more quickly under wet, monsoon-season conditions is evidenced by the fact that there were just 213 cases of dengue reported in Phuket from January 1 to June 12 this year.

“We must accept that despite our efforts to eradicate them, the mosquitoes that vector this disease are getting more difficult to control, in part due to increasing resistance to pesticide sprays,” Dr Wiwat said.

He specified a four-point strategy that is effective at limiting breeding opportunities for the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads misery in the form of Chikungunya and yellow fever, as well dengue.

- Place lids on all water containers to prevent mosquito from laying eggs in them;

- Change the water in all containers every seven days;

- Release guppies or other small fish into ponds to feed on mosquito larvae;

- Limit potential breeding sites in and around residences.

The spread of dengue is far worse in the Deep South, where some 6,500 people in five provinces contracted the disease from January 1 to July 29, with 13 deaths.

In Songkhla Province alone, 2,592 people were reported ill with the fever and six died over the same period.

The latest victim was a 11-month-old baby who died on July 27 in Haad Yai.

Children under two years of age are especially at risk of dying from the disease.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-08-11

[ScubaBuddha]

Make that 384.

[Valentine]

Make that 384.

Get well soon.

[LeungKen]

Make that 384.

This is a very painful affliction by all accounts.

Best Wishes for a speedy recovery and please keep us updated.

cheers, Ken.

[ScubaBuddha]

Make that 384.

This is a very painful affliction by all accounts.

Best Wishes for a speedy recovery and please keep us updated.

cheers, Ken.

It was back at the beginning of the year, so I have recovered, but thanks for the kind words!!! I never bothered going to the doc since there is no treatment other than rest and fluids, but the symptoms were, well...exactly as described. Nothing quote like it. It came right after getting 20-30 mossi bites in one day. Caught at the beach with no repellent for several evening hours. Serves me right...I was chasing a girl. The ironic thing, and what my friends find endless humour in...is one of the items I sell is mosquito repellent.