Thais Face Drowning, Disease In Disastrous Floods

[sausageandmash]

Yes, I saw those posts late last night. I knew they would be deleted. Adios Tommy.

2 incredibly rude posts have been removed along with a few replies. A warning is in progress. Keep it civil!!!!

:jap:

[MaxYakov]

Unfortunately (beacuse I live here and married a Thai) I have to agree with the comments about Thais being unhygienic. Have lost count of the number of times I have seen a food vendor taking a piss by the side of his stall, only to go straight back to preparing food with his bare hands. This in central Bangkok let alone the outer provinces. Its not the secret Thai spices on that road side chicken that gives the unique taste folks...

It really makes me angry when I see posts like yours. I lived in Suan Plu for almost a year and used to visit my a food stall on the main street most nights for a bite to eat and a Chaang. I used to yap to the locals, read a book or whatever but one thing that I always noticed was how thorough the vendors were when it came to cleaning, they would spend an age at the end of the night scrubbing away on their pots and pans. You are absolutely deluded if you think that Western kitchens are whiter than white. I'd trust a Thai street stall far faster than the majority of Western kitchens. If you have such a low regard of the locals maybe head of to UKvisa.com etc and stop slagging the people that make Thailand what it is.

I'd say 'trust, but verify' when it comes to Thai street food. I won't provide the more dire hygiene/health-related discoveries of the below paper, for fear of disturbing everyone's appetite. You'll have to read the paper. Maybe Chopper71 had fortuitously discovered a hygienic vendor or maybe it was the 'Chaang' [sic] beer that had innoculated him.

This is Bangkok's street food project paper (appears to be credible, with high-echelon contributors):

THAILAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CODE OF PRACTICE FOR STREET FOODS

Sanitary requirements for street food stalls

1. Vending units should be designed and constructed so that they are strong and easy to clean. They should be kept clean, and food preparation surfaces should be at least at 60 cm above the ground.

2. Foods and drinks should be protected from contamination (microorganisms, toxic chemicals, dirt, etc.). Food displayed for sale should be protected by suitable coverings which can be made of glass, clear plastic or any clean material.

3. Seasonings and ingredients should be of a quality approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

4. Ice for human consumption and drinking-water should be clean and safe. Ice for human consumption should be kept in a clean container and covered. Nothing else should be stored in this container. Handling of ice for human consumption by hands is not permitted. A separate container should be used for the storage of ice used for purposes other than human consumption.

5. Utensils such as bowls, dishes, spoons, forks and chopsticks should be clean, in good condition and made of materials that do not release toxic or hazardous substances into food and drinks. They should be designed for sanitation and kept clean. Utensils with colour decoration on inner surfaces are prohibited.

6. Utensils should be washed in three steps in suitable sinks maintained at least at 60 cm above the ground.

7. Utensils should be kept in a clean place at least at 60 cm above the ground. Bowls, dishes and glasses should be stored in upside-down position. Spoons, forks or chopsticks should be stored with the handles up.

8. Containers and spoons used for seasonings such as vinegar, soy sauce or hot sauce should be made of glass, stainless steel or white porcelain (with no colour decorations), and covers should always be used for protection from contamination.

9. Refuse containers should be of suitable size and designed with a cover. Containers should be emptied and cleaned routinely.

10. Food handlers should be trained specifically on the subjects of personal hygiene and food preparation. They should follow appropriate hygienic food handling practices. The cook should always wear a clean white apron, and hair should be covered.

Edited October 27, 2011 by MaxYakov

[luangtom]

The government turns down physical aid from the US Navy days ago that would have brought in equipment, personnel and needed medical supplies and given access to a hospital-ship and now they are determined to get psychiatric help out to the citizens. What is this reader missing here?

One would think that saving-face would take a back-seat to the welfare and well-being of the citizens. This is simply amazing......TIT.

[geriatrickid]

Electrocution is also a serious threat. A student at the university where my wife works says that, in Bang Khae, where he lives, several neighbours have been killed in this way, but it seems not to have been mentioned in the press.

Not to be flippant, but they are included in the death count.

You raise a very important point and I hope people pay attention to the electrocution hazards.

[siampolee]

Methinks that possibly, " electrocution hazards". should have read " Election hazards."

[MaxYakov]

I am curious as to why the title reads "Thais Face Drowning, Disease...." Are no other nationalities affected?

Anyone (of any nationality) living or working here is also going to be at considerable risk given the magnitide of the situation and the stench and filth that will cover this country once the flood waters have subsided.

I was also shocked to read that foreign imported workers, such as Burmese, were being turned away from evacuation shelters .... clearly their usefulness has been suspended, but they will be right at the top of the "at risk" category when it comes to the massive post-flood clean-up ... a time when their usefulness will be boosted once again.

So, to those who take on the role of journalist, please think about your headings ..... perhaps "People of all Nationalities Face Drowning, Disease......"

Would "People Face Drowning, Disease......" be too succinct?

[frodo]

A lot of dangerous things in the water. Tetanus came immediately to my mind. Be careful if you must tread through the waters.

[rubl]

A lot of dangerous things in the water. Tetanus came immediately to my mind. Be careful if you must tread through the waters.

May be a good idea to check if your shots are up-to-date assuming you'll be in the Bangkok Deluge

[guyinthailand]

Cholera is caused by 'fecal to oral' contact, such as happens in a flood when sewage contaminates water supplies.

Antibiotics by themselves won't save a cholera patient. Patients can die within hours or days if they aren't rehydrated.

Mix 1 teaspoon salt with 8 teaspoons sugar in a liter of clean water. Patient may have to drink many liters per day to match loss through diarrhea. If water is dirty, strain, then boil. If no fuel for boiling, strain, then add 2 drops bleach to liter of water. Rice soup (and other carbohydrates) can substitute for the 'sugar' part but salt must be added. Solution should taste no more salty than tears. Patient must drink at least as much salt/sugar solution as they are losing through diarrhea.

detailed instructions can be found by clicking here: Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) - Rehydration Project

Edited October 28, 2011 by guyinthailand

[losworld]

Good post...

[Buchholz]

Thais face drowning, disease in disastrous floods

by Michelle Fitzpatrick

BANGKOK, October 26, 2011 (AFP) - Thais enduring the nation's worst floods in decades have faced marauding crocodiles and threat of snake bites and electrocution, but health experts say the top risks are drowning and disease.

Three months into a crisis that has ravaged the kingdom and is now encroaching on the capital Bangkok, conditions are ripe for a humanitarian disaster and aid agencies are racing to heighten awareness.

Matthew Cochrane of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "You need to find a balance between being alert and alarmed."

Experts say the priority is to maintain hygiene levels and aid agencies are trying to provide clean water and bathroom facilities -- including floating and collapsible latrines -- to tens of thousands of affected families.

"We're talking about basic sanitation: drinking water that's clean, washing your hands and making sure that areas where you wash and where you defecate are separated," Cochrane said.

"The general concern in any floods is water-borne diseases and mosquito-borne diseases," he added, warning there was often "an increased risk of malaria and dengue fever" in waterlogged areas.

Given the right precautions, a serious outbreak of flood-related disease is not inevitable, he said.

Cochrane said Thais were generally well-educated on hygiene, which bodes well for epidemic prevention, but a recurring complaint among those affected is a lack of toilet facilities, especially in deeply submerged regions.

"The water came up to the toilet in my house," said Kusuma Glomjai, 34, who lives in a badly hit area of Pathum Thani province, just north of the capital.

"I can't use my toilet so I have to go to a relative's house across the road."

Others in her situation have resorted to defecating in plastic bags, while many other flood victims have voiced concern over the filthy water they are forced to wade through.

Birmingham said communicable diseases such as conjunctivitis could spread easily among evacuees, as well as fungal infections of the skin and leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water.

Cases of skin infections, especially athlete's foot, already number in the thousands, according to Thai health ministry which has deployed mobile medical teams to flood-stricken areas that have treated over half a million people.

Birmingham said hygiene kits, water and sanitation facilities were a top priority but admitted it was "very challenging" to deliver them to all of those of need.

Government dismisses health fears

Despite filthy stagnant floodwater spreading in many provinces, the government yesterday tried to play down fears of a public health crisis, citing the "success" in avoiding outbreak of fatal communicable diseases like leptospirosis and cholera.

Disease Control Department (DCD) director general Porntep Siriwanarangsun yesterday assured the public that although incidences of communicable diseases were detected during the ongoing flood crisis, they did not pose a serious threat.

Of more than 2.1 million Thais seriously affected by floods, fewer than 100,000 are staying at government shelters. That means at least 2 million people have been making do on their own, taking care of their own foods, drinks as well as hygiene. Many have had to live with no electricity and clean water has been scarce. Garbage has been accumulating, but it is not the only reason why floodwaters in many areas have become almost unbearably smelly.

Concerns have grown about the government's ability to cope with an exploding health emergency, as the Flood Relief Operations Centre is structured primarily for water management and immediate rescue operations.

FROC's reach has proved very limited in rescue activities, let alone dealing with a health crisis at a time when a large number of people could be exposed to diseases, hospital personnel have been stretched or affected by floods themselves, and transport proven difficult.

The government, however, expressed confidence that the situation is still under control. "We have been monitoring the situation. Some cases are detected but the diseases are not spreading among a big group of people," Porntep pointed out.

Public fear about health risks during the ongoing floods has increased lately after international agencies such as World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have voiced concerns.

Matthew Cochrane, communications and advocacy manager, SouthEast Asia at IFRC, was quoted by CNN a few days ago as warning of diseases such as diarrhoea, dengue fever and malaria in the coming days and weeks in floodhit areas.

"There are places on the outskirts of Bangkok and in other parts of the country which have been flooded for nearly two weeks," he was quoted as speaking.

Pornthep yesterday said to date, common diseases found among the flood victims at 160 evacuation centres were just mere cold, diarrhoea, and conjunctivitis. "No dysentery. No typhoid," he said.

He disclosed that one case of cholera was detected in Bangkok's Prawet district but disease control measures were already put in place there.

"We are confident that there will be no outbreak of cholera in Bangkok," he said.

Asked if a large number of people would catch cholera if some cholera-infected human faeces were dropped into floodwater, Pornthep said, "If you don't directly contact the infected stuff or put it into your mouth, there's no significant risk. But to play safe, please eat only fully-cooked and safe food".

On leptospirosis, Pornthep said some cases were detected in Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet with two deaths reported.

"However, their deaths are not related to flooding," he said, "They caught the disease after they went back to their farms. Floodwater has already subsided". Leptospirosis is a dangerous disease. Infected people may succumb within seven days if they do not receive proper treatment.

Pornthep said available statistics from flood-hit foreign countries showed about one per cent of floodvictim population would come down with leptospirosis.

He, therefore, believed that Thailand would see more than 10,000 people catching the disease because flooding has already directly affected about one million people in the country.

He also believed most patients would be the residents of Bangkok and its adjacent provinces. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water. The soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) contact with the contaminated water or soil.

"Rats won't run around when floodwater is high. But once floodwater subsides, people must quickly dispose of garbage or else rats will show up and spread the disease," Pornthep said. Currently, runoff water from the upper part of the country is crashing down on Bangkok and its adjacent provinces. A large number of city residents have now lived in their seriouslyflooded homes.

Asked about infected waste at hosiptals, Pornthep said hospitals were already instructed about how to safely dispose such waste in flood time. "The risk of contracting serious diseases from infected waste is almost nil," he said.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said DCD had received Bt7 million for the urgent mission of controlling the communicable diseases during the flood.

Pollution Control Department deputy director general Worasat Apaipong estimated that flood victims would accumulate about 1.45 million tonnes of garbage during floods for the authorities to tackle once floodwater subsided. "There will be damaged furniture items and electric appliances to tackle," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

[Buchholz]

Inundated communities have been warned to watch out for poisonous snakes swimming in the murky floodwaters

Deadly green mambas escape

Another terror from the floods emerged yesterday - the public was warned that 15 green mamba snakes had escaped from a flooded building in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district on Tuesday night.

Officials say the highly venomous snakes include two adults - 2 metres long - and 13 one-metre-long young ones.

Anyone spotting the snakes must alert the Zoo and Wildlife Veterinary Society of Thailand via hotline 1362 or the Jor Sor 100 radio station at (02) 711 9160.

Chisanu Tiyacharoensri, vice president of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand, said green mambas were yellowish-green and larger than green snakes. He urged people to stay away from the snakes and be careful not to be bitten because there was no serum available in Thailand at present to counteract their venom.

Chisanu said the victim of a mamba bite would feel drowsy and could die in 20 minutes. If he or she survived, the victim would be on respiratory aid while waiting for antivenin to come from South America in two or three days.

For first aid in case of snakebite to a limb, Chisanu said the wound should be cleaned gently with soap and water, and a piece of cloth should be wrapped tightly at least 7 centimetres above the bite. A second piece should be wrapped 7cm above the first. The victim should lie down before being quickly transported to hospital.

He warned not to squeeze or cut the wound.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

[Buchholz]

Poisonous Green Mamba Snakes Still Being Hunted

Zoological Park Organization officials are still searching for 15 green mamba snakes which were let loose from a flooded house in Pakkred, Nonthaburi.

Two of the snakes are breeders and are 2 meters in length while the remaining 13 are its babies and are 1 meter in length.

These snakes are poisonous but officials assure those who have been bitten can survive if they seek immediate medical attention.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-03

[Buchholz]

Team hunting for deadly green mambas

Nonthaburi Governor Wichian Phutthiwinyu yesterday assigned a team to hunt for 15 deadly green mamba snakes that escaped from a flooded home in Pak Kret district on Tuesday.

Saying that none of the creatures had been confirmed captured, Wichian urged people not to try to capture or kill the yellowish green snakes of 12 meters in length themselves, because the serum for their venom wasn't available in Thailand.

Anyone who spotted such a snake should instead call for expert assistance via the hotline on 1131 or 1363.

Earlier in the day, a widely circulated tweet claimed a green mamba had been found on Soi Kosumruamjai, but this has not been confirmed. Wichian has also contacted the National Parks Department in a bid to track down other wildlife dealers with permits to handle such snakes, and check if any more were loose.

Pimuk Simaroj, Director-General of the Zoological Park Organisation, said the tip-off over the escaped mambas had come from an Internet website, and officials had not yet traced the snakes' owner.

Explaining that the mambas' natural habitat was trees, he advised people to stay away from isolated wooded scrubland and urged anyone bitten by a snake to wash the wound and see a doctor immediately.

-- The Nation 2011-11-04

[Buchholz]

Team hunting for deadly green mambas

Saying that none of the creatures had been confirmed captured, Wichian urged people not to try to capture or kill the yellowish green snakes of 12 meters in length themselves, because the serum for their venom wasn't available in Thailand.

Public Health Ministry is saying that 50 doses of anti-venom that it purchased for 300,000 baht have now arrived in Thailand from South Africa.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation are investigating whether the whole green mamba snake escape has been a hoax.

.

[Buchholz]

Trash, sewage boost disease risk in Bangkok floods

BANGKOK—Samroeng Verravanich wades through the rancid brown water in one of Bangkok's many flooded streets. The garbageman plunges a white-gloved hand into the filth, fishes out a slimy plastic bag and slings it into the red basket he's towing.

"If you have cuts, it can create infections between your fingers," Samroeng says of the dirty water, holding out a dripping hand peppered with a red rash. "My hands got infected. It hurts and it spreads too—like a virus."

As Thailand's worst floods in more than half a century continue to creep into Bangkok, mixing with water bubbling up through drains and spilling over canals, many streets have become floating landfills. Plastic bags overflowing with waste and rotten food.

Continues:

http://www.ldnews.com/ci_19254384?source=most_viewed

-- (c) Associated Press 17 minutes ago