Thai Health Ministry Offices Nationwide On Foot-And-Mouth Disease Alert

[webfact]

Health Ministry offices nationwide on foot-&-mouth alert

BANGKOK, 14 June 2012 (NNT) - The Health Ministry has instructed all of its offices across the country to be on high alert against the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease.

Health Minister Wittaya Busanasiri said on Wednesday that the arrival of the rainy season, which brings along cold and wet weather, signals the risk of the foot-and-mouth disease spread, particularly among young children.

Mr. Wittaya said that the latest report confirmed the spread of virus in some provinces. With the new school term underway, the minister has instructed health offices nationwide to continuously keep a close eye on the situation.

Worried about an easy viral spread in crowded classrooms, the Health Minister urged related officials who have detected the presence of the disease to quickly introduce measures to contain the outbreak.

He also asked teachers and child's care center staff to report any suspicious finding of the virus to report to the nearest health office immediately.

According to the Health Ministry, from January to May, as many as 6,109 people have been infected with the foot-and-mouth disease, but no fatality has been reported. The biggest number of patients was from the North, followed by the central region, the South and the Northeast.

However, the latest data shows the number of foot-and-mouth patients in this year has tripled from the same time of 2011.

-- NNT 2012-06-14

[yummypizza]

Just thought i add this, no nothing about it.

Foot-and-mouth disease infecting humans

Humans can be infected with foot-and-mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but this is extremely rare. Some cases were caused by laboratory accidents. Because the virus that causes FMD is sensitive to stomach acid, it cannot spread to humans via consumption of infected meat, except in the mouth before the meat is swallowed. In the UK, the last confirmed human case occurred in 1966,^[12][13] and only a few other cases have been recorded in countries of continental Europe, Africa, and South America. Symptoms of FMD in humans include malaise, fever, vomiting, red ulcerative lesions (surface-eroding damaged spots) of the oral tissues, and sometimes vesicular lesions (small blisters) of the skin. According to a newspaper report, FMD killed two children in England in 1884, supposedly due to infected milk.^[14]

Another viral disease with similar symptoms, hand, foot and mouth disease, occurs more frequently in humans, especially in young children; the cause, Coxsackie A virus, is different from FMDV. Coxsackie viruses belong to the Enteroviruses within the Picornaviridae.

Because FMD rarely infects humans, but spreads rapidly among animals, it is a much greater threat to the agriculture industry than to human health. Farmers around the world can lose huge amounts of money during a foot-and-mouth epizootic, when large amounts of animal capital is destroyed, and revenues from milk and meat production go down.

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[Reasonableman]

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common, mild illness caused by a type of virus called an enterovirus.

It is usually caused by the coxsackie A virus, but in some cases can be caused by the coxsackie B or the enterovirus 71 virus.

Hand, foot and mouth disease gets its name from the non-itchy rash that develops on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. It can also cause ulcers in your mouth and make you feel generally unwell, although some people have no symptoms (see Symptoms for more information).

Who is affected?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is very contagious (easily spread) and is common in children under 10 years of age. However, adolescents and adults can also be affected.

Most adults are immune to the coxsackie A and B virus as they have been previously exposed to it during their childhood. Adults who develop the disease usually experience milder symptoms than children.

It is possible to catch hand, foot and mouth disease more than once, but children are unlikely to catch it again during the same outbreak.

Outlook

Generally, hand, foot and mouth disease is a mild and short-lasting illness. Treatment is usually not needed as the body's immune system clears the virus and symptoms go away after about 7 to 10 days.

[Ricardo]

I've heard that a third variant, foot-in-mouth disease, is limited to politicians & wannabees ?

[ratcatcher]

Health Ministry offices nationwide on "foot in mouth" alert.

Department officials have been instructed to inspect locations where government officials and politicians are assembled as the Ministry is concerned by the number of bizarre and misleading statements commonly made by these people in office.

Priority has been given to Parliamentary sessions and these will be monitored following recess.

The Thai public has too frequently been the victim of government officials putting their foot in their mouth regarding serious subjects such as reconciliation and flood prevention talks.

[jaltsc]

I've heard that a third variant, foot-in-mouth disease, is limited to politicians & wannabees ?

dam_n...You beat me to it. This one was too obvious.

[belg]

cold? mmhhhh yes, i can see that... only 29° in my no airconned room instead of the usual 32°

guess it is time to bring out the sweathers

[PingManDan]

Just thought i add this, no nothing about it.

Foot-and-mouth disease infecting humans

Humans can be infected with foot-and-mouth disease through contact with infected animals, but this is extremely rare. Some cases were caused by laboratory accidents. Because the virus that causes FMD is sensitive to stomach acid, it cannot spread to humans via consumption of infected meat, except in the mouth before the meat is swallowed. In the UK, the last confirmed human case occurred in 1966,^[12][13] and only a few other cases have been recorded in countries of continental Europe, Africa, and South America. Symptoms of FMD in humans include malaise, fever, vomiting, red ulcerative lesions (surface-eroding damaged spots) of the oral tissues, and sometimes vesicular lesions (small blisters) of the skin. According to a newspaper report, FMD killed two children in England in 1884, supposedly due to infected milk.^[14]

Another viral disease with similar symptoms, hand, foot and mouth disease, occurs more frequently in humans, especially in young children; the cause, Coxsackie A virus, is different from FMDV. Coxsackie viruses belong to the Enteroviruses within the Picornaviridae.

Because FMD rarely infects humans, but spreads rapidly among animals, it is a much greater threat to the agriculture industry than to human health. Farmers around the world can lose huge amounts of money during a foot-and-mouth epizootic, when large amounts of animal capital is destroyed, and revenues from milk and meat production go down.

.

So in essence, what really needs to be checked closely are the cattle, not so much kids in school. In the bovine family, it can wipe out the whole beef & dairy herds very quickly in epidemic proportions.

[tonglen]

Ive heard that the Coxsackie virus has been floating around many of the bars in Soi Bangla.

Oh, did you say "coxsackie?" Never mind, I was thinking of something else. Sorry.

[bangkokbruce]

It's better known as Redshirtitis...putting their foot in their mouth disease

[gand]

Sounds like what the politicians have?