Dengue death toll reaches 78 in Thailand

BANGKOK, 29 July 2013 (NNT) - The Public Health Ministry is fighting a sharp upsurge in dengue fever as the disease has killed nearly 80 people from across the country.

So far this year, 81,763 dengue fever cases have been recorded in Thailand, with the highest concentration of cases in the northern province of Chiang Mai. During the past week, the province saw 6,284 people infected by the virus.

The ministry is launching a strict campaign to eradicate the mosquitoes’ breeding grounds and to urge residents to seek medical treatment as soon as they display symptoms. War rooms have been set up to coordinate campaign work with provincial health offices.

16 provinces including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phichit and Kalasin report high number of patients as the outbreak is becoming difficult to contain.

Thailand’s rainy season, running from May through September, is the high risk period for dengue fever.


-- NNT 2013-07-29

A "war room"??? 555555555555

My experience with this disease. Was tested at day four and results were negative. But a simple google search shows the test is basically useless until day five and later. So on day six I went back to be tested. The doctor said basically "why you want to be tested. You were tested and were negative". I said just test me for dengue...dont sell me drugs or anything else, just test me for dengue.

Results came back positive.

I write this because many people are tested before their immune system has mounted an adequate response to be verified by the test. Without knowing they are infected, dengue positive people are now infecting family and friends who reside in close proximity. The mosquito, once infected, remains infected for up to two months. Within this period, anybody can be infected by a bite from this mosquito.

The doctor had no response (of course) when I mentioned the ELISA test is not accurate during the initial onset of disease (day 1-4). And, unfortunately, the risk of infecting others is greatest between days 1-4.

There is a fairly rapid, DNA based test that can accurately test for dengue within the first day of infection. But would this test be part of the "war room" the Thai Ministry of Health has set up?