Thai Health Ministry Worried About Possible Dengue Epidemic After Songkran

[webfact]

Public Health Ministry worried about possible dengue epidemic after Songkran

BANGKOK, 8 April 2013 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is worried that the country may be hit by a dengue virus epidemic after the Songkran celebrations are over.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sopon Mekthon, as the chair of the ministry’s anti-dengue war room, said on Sunday that, during the past 2 weeks, there have been around 2,000 more dengue patients reported across the country.

He said the latest records show a slight decline from the months before, highly likely because of the summer school break.

From January to March, a total of 17,960 people were diagnosed with dengue virus while 20 were killed by it, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Dr. Sopon stated the number of dengue victims, since the beginning of the year, have been three times higher than the same time of last year.

He added that the risk of dengue infection is now at home and that a regular removal of mosquito-breeding sites is needed, possibly every 5-7 days, in order to prevent possible spread of the virus.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health went on to say that an official survey of 300,000 households in 32 provinces found every 1 in 4 witnessed mosquito presence, showing a large number of people are still neglecting the danger of dengue.

Dr. Sopon said the Public Health Ministry will continue to focus on destroying mosquito-breeding sites and encouraging the public to use lemongrass as non-chemical repellent.

However, he noted that there may be a dengue epidemic after the annual Songkran festival, during which people who are carriers may unknowingly spread the virus while traveling back to their hometowns or on holidays.

-- NNT 2013-04-08

[Hedghog]

The last part of this article is strange.

People who are carriers may spread the virus.

I wasn't aware Dengue could be transmitted,person to person.

[chainarong]

Well it is the dry season and that creates stagnant water , that breeds mosquitoes, this happens each year through out the tropical climates ,from tropical top end of Australia to Hong Kong, Singapore has big neon signs on high rise buildings, each year flashing the alert ,advisory warnings are at Changi, bus stops, Train stations etc , go figure .

[chainarong]

The last part of this article is strange.

People who are carriers may spread the virus.

I wasn't aware Dengue could be transmitted,person to person.

Hedgehog, do believe if a mossy bits a carrier that in turn, turns that mossy into a carrier , its only spread by mosquitoes, also latest research indicates Malaria can be carried this way.

[DocN]

Maybe people should splash some water, so the larvae can not...oh...wait....

[Locationthailand]

There are about 100,000 cases in Thailand recorded (acknowledged) and no doubt more from poor people who are unable to afford medication or hospital visits. It is not about to go away and there are reportedly around 100M cases annually, globally. Once anyone has it a simple solution is to juice papaya leaves and drink, morning noon and night (tastes not great) but cures it in 5 days. FYI anyway.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Locationthailand

[Payboy]

the ministry’s anti-dengue war room

What's that? A tent with mosquito curtains?

[DocN]

the ministry’s anti-dengue war room

What's that? A tent with mosquito curtains?

..and a fly- flap...

[Pimay1]

the ministry’s anti-dengue war room

What's that? A tent with mosquito curtains?

..and a fly- flap...

Venus?

[Payboy]

Don't forget the mosquito coils.

[h90]

I think it is very kind of Dengue to let people celebrate Songkran before it brakes out.

[JetsetBkk]

The last part of this article is strange.

People who are carriers may spread the virus.

I wasn't aware Dengue could be transmitted,person to person.

Thanks, Hedghog, for the incentive to Google 'dengue' :

The life cycle of dengue virus is strictly dependent on only mosquitoes and humans. Once the mosquito feeds on a viremic human, there is a 10-day extrinsic incubation period in which the virus develops and passes from the mosquito intestinal tract to its salivary glands.

Human infection results from the bite of the infected mosquito.

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/articles/hottopics/transcripts/2012/05-dengue/10.html

[NanLaew]

Having not witnessed the local mosquito fogger van running around the moobahn for quite a few years, I can only assume that the Health Ministry decided that the money spent running them would be better spent on 'surveys' of households rather than on active prevention.

[Always18]

Having not witnessed the local mosquito fogger van running around the moobahn for quite a few years, I can only assume that the Health Ministry decided that the money spent running them would be better spent on 'surveys' of households rather than on active prevention.

Living in a fairly isolated rural spot surrounded by greenery, we have a year-round problem with mozzies but just try to buy any kind of outdoors mozzie-killing spray or smoke machine "medicine" and the answer is always the same " No, cannot - you must ask government........."

We used to pay the local monks to bring their smoke machine around to our place until it burst into flames on the last occasion - the hapless monk was lucky to escape with only a singed robe!

[belg]

what do you expect? the songkran will make sure many containers will be fitted very well for breeding of mozzies, specially what other countries try to avoid, is encouraged here

[DocN]

the ministry’s anti-dengue war room

What's that? A tent with mosquito curtains?

..and a fly- flap...

Venus?

No, Nils...but I thought, I told you?!

[Payboy]

I think it is very kind of Dengue to let people celebrate Songkran before it brakes out.

Yeah, it like to say dengue very much for that.