Public Health Ministry warns of health risks from second-hand winter clothes

[webfact]

Public Health Ministry warns of health risks from second-hand winter clothes

BANGKOK, 21 October 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health is warning recipients of second-hand winter clothes and sweaters to watch out for three possible risks of illnesses.

? Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Narong Sahametapat said that as temperature starts to drop, residents in the North and the Northeast are asked to try keep themselves warm in order not to get sick.

However, Dr. Narong is also concerned about the purchase of used winter clothes and sweaters which have been brought in from other countries as they may be carriers of certain illnesses, including allergy, ringworm and other skin diseases.

Health Department Director-General Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarangsan added that shoppers of second-hand winter wear should avoid those items laid on the ground for sale as dust or insects might sneak into those pieces. They should also put on facial masks during shopping and avoiding items with stains or made of leather with fluffy materials as they can be a source of germ and difficult to clean.

As a precaution, Dr. Pornthep said used items should be disinfected by washing in hot water that is hotter than 60 degree Celsius for at least 15 minutes before leaving them to dry in the sun.


-- NNT 2014-10-21

[Credo]

Apparently you can only catch diseases from clothes that are brought in from other countries?

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Next the caretaker government will explain that people should brush their teeth more than twice a year

[JOC]

So the xenophopia now includes foreign clothes that could contain foreign insects!!

Maybe if there was an even distribution of wealth in this country, nobody needed to buy second-hand clothes??

[lostinisaan]

As a precaution, Dr. Pornthep said used items should be disinfected by washing in hot water that is hotter than 60 degree Celsius for at least 15 minutes before leaving them to dry in the sun.

Just wondering how many people who buy second hand clothes do have a real washing machine?

The hub of foreign insects in second hand clothes?

[Bluespunk]

Is this part of the new History curriculum?

Take national pride in Thai second hand clothes?

Help repel the invasion of the second hand clothes of foreigners?

Wash stuff because they don't?

Ok, it's not that bad, but this article could have contained a little less national chauvinism and focused upon practice advice on buying second hand clothes regardless of their origin.

[GAZZPA]

Blimey,, there have been second hand clothes shops in the UK for ever,, But not once have I ever heard of the associated health risks and I have never heard of anyone saying,,,,,,,,, "I bought this shirt from Barnados and it gave me ringworm!"

Not sure where Thailand is getting its second hand clothes from but I would guess,, and it is just a guess, that the Public Health Ministry is talking shit.

[waynethor]

This just falls in line with what Thais are taught in their schools and communities. A lot of time is spent brainwashing these people to believe that a) Thailand is the center of the universe and b ) Thais are the only worthy beings in the universe. All other inhabitants of the planet Earth are horrible and diseased inferiors.

[jaltsc]

"...as temperature starts to drop, residents in the North and the Northeast are asked to try keep themselves warm in order not to get sick."

"Not to get sick"? They should keep themselves warm so they don't succumb to hypothermia and die. I doubt their main concern is the origin of the clothing, since natural survival behavior dictates that their only goal is to survive.

It should be the government's obligation to distribute "safe" warm clothing to its poorer citizens and not depend on clothing from other sources. The government's main responsibility is for the welfare of all citizens.

Seriously, does this government have any clue what its real responsibilities are? ...Rhetorical question....However, the members of the government love to hear their own voices so much, they probably answer rhetorical questions all the time...and sound even more ridiculous.

[Loles]

They are Korean clothes, and 50 - 150 B / piece. And my opinion they are from humanitarian helping but of course some foxy people here sale them.

[chainarong]

My country of origin we have the Red Cross , Good Samaritans plus others that sell second hand clothes and they do a good job , the clothes actually need to be steamed then washed, however the way the public health department talks down to the population you would think that everyone was educated in Thailand.

[GAZZPA]

This just falls in line with what Thais are taught in their schools and communities. A lot of time is spent brainwashing these people to believe that a) Thailand is the center of the universe and Thais are the only worthy beings in the universe. All other inhabitants of the planet Earth are horrible and diseased inferiors.

I like it. You forgot to mention that we all smell of cheese, only wash at Christmas and 1 in 2 children are discarded because they are born with 2 heads.

[catsanddogs]

I live in England and have been buying second hand clothes for myself and my family for years because I am keen to recycle whenever possible. A doctor told me years ago that ironing clothes was the best way to kill germs in clothes. Well I never iron because life's too short, and I always wash at low temperatures, and we have never caught anything from second hand clothing. I'm sure there are as many bugs here as there are anywhere else.

[GAZZPA]

as temperature starts to drop, residents in the North and the Northeast are asked to try keep themselves warm in order not to get sick.

I know,, its as if they are all sitting around shivering, teeth chattering, extremities turning blue and then the government says "try and keep warm" and suddenly the populous says "oh, thanks very much" and they all stick on some warm clothing and thank the government for their amazing advice.

[jaltsc]

My country of origin we have the Red Cross , Good Samaritans plus others that sell second hand clothes and they do a good job , the clothes actually need to be steamed then washed, however the way the public health department talks down to the population you would think that everyone was educated in Thailand.

"Educated in Thailand" You win the oxymoron award of the day.

[englishoak]

In other words, dont go buying all those cheap. second hand, good quality, donated farang stuff.

Instead buy the more expensive but cheaply made imported S**t from China or local that uses bad quality material and dosnt do half the job of keeping people warm enough.

After all theres no risk to Imported new stuff is there ?

Riiiight....

People should wash all clothes before wearing new or old anyway, having said that the risks are already tiny

Some health minister.

I think all this is about is Ebola and the minister suddenly finding people are willing to interview him so no doubt he has to find something to say while theres no Ebola in Thailand... yet.

[tim armstrong]

My wife regularly goes to our large weekend market and buys secondhand clothes, as well as factory seconds. !2 years on we haven't caught anything.

[Misterwhisper]

The minister talks about "recipients of second-hand winter clothes", which implies that they are distributed for free either by local or international aid organizations, perhaps even the ministry itself.

If so, it should be assumed that these organizations ensure that second-hand clothes donated to them have been properly disinfected and cleaned before being distributed.

But what really stinks are the minister's xenophobic remarks about infected foreign clothes. It effectively means that second-hand clothing originating from within Thailand (and regardless whether cleaned or not) is always and invariably safe to wear without the danger of contracting any bug, whereas foreign garments are not, mostly because their former owners are all unwashed, disease-ridden slobs.

The mindset of these people gives me the shivers, but then again they are a product of the very same ultra-nationalistic brainwashing that prevails at educational institutes across the country, starting from preschool and going all the way through to university.

[ratcatcher]

The minister is no doubt quite familiar with brainwashing and how healthy he thinks that is.

Perhaps he should familiarize himself with clothes washing, detergents and hot water where necessary.

[Maybole]

Washing woolen clothing at 60deg C will shrink them!

[GAZZPA]

The minister talks about "recipients of second-hand winter clothes", which implies that they are distributed for free either by local or international aid organizations, perhaps even the ministry itself.

If so, it should be assumed that these organizations ensure that second-hand clothes donated to them have been properly disinfected and cleaned before being distributed.

But what really stinks are the minister's xenophobic remarks about infected foreign clothes. It effectively means that second-hand clothing originating from within Thailand (and regardless whether cleaned or not) is always and invariably safe to wear without the danger of contracting any bug, whereas foreign garments are not, mostly because their former owners are all unwashed, disease-ridden slobs.

The mindset of these people gives me the shivers, but then again they are a product of the very same ultra-nationalistic brainwashing that prevails at educational institutes across the country, starting from preschool and going all the way through to university.

I get what you are saying but to be honest it is so completely absurd that I laugh it off. Anyone who is dumb enough to believe the horseshit probably deserves your pity.

Remember Thai people were told that they don't need electrical earthing in the home because they use a different type of electricity from the rest of the world,,, and that rows of boats were going to be positioned along the rivers so there propellors could re direct the flood waters,, and that they have never been colonised (China and Japan anyone?) there are many, many others,,

Just be thankful, very thankful that you are not one of the people that believes it.

[mojorison]

Simply scandalous.

[mojorison]

Is this part of the process of not only keeping the poor dumb, but also cold? Jeezus.

[wabothai]

Importing used clothes seems far fetched to me. They come from foreigners who left their clothes here. The rest is for you to fill in.

[mojorison]

Importing used clothes seems far fetched to me. They come from foreigners who left their clothes here. The rest is for you to fill in.

Nonsense.

[Greer]

I see an awful lot of people attacking the government here for putting out what is a perfectly reasonable warning with instructions on how to mitigate the risks.

You seem to forget that many of the poor people may not be well enough educated to realise that clothing CAN transmit various health risks including mites and other nasties.

They are quite correct to inform - what on earth is wrong with you guys who insist on seeing everything as another reason to try to pull down the country and denigrate the people?

If they did not warn people, and there was a huge rise in infections from livestock inhabiting second hand clothing, you would whinge about that too - give it a rest.

It may be common sense to us that second hand clothing needs to be properly cleaned, and it may be expected that such materials, if purchased in the UK or Australia or the US would be clean, or even that the government should give the poor, some warm clothing - but that's not currently the case, and no the people are not all well enough informed to know of the potential dangers from unclean materials - so it is totally acceptable that the government should issue such a warning, and it is totally unacceptable that anyone complain about an act of common sense!

It is fair to complain if the government DOES NOT try to help people, but not when they do try to help. Be reasonable and fair.

[GAZZPA]

I see an awful lot of people attacking the government here for putting out what is a perfectly reasonable warning with instructions on how to mitigate the risks.

You seem to forget that many of the poor people may not be well enough educated to realise that clothing CAN transmit various health risks including mites and other nasties.

They are quite correct to inform - what on earth is wrong with you guys who insist on seeing everything as another reason to try to pull down the country and denigrate the people?

If they did not warn people, and there was a huge rise in infections from livestock inhabiting second hand clothing, you would whinge about that too - give it a rest.

It may be common sense to us that second hand clothing needs to be properly cleaned, and it may be expected that such materials, if purchased in the UK or Australia or the US would be clean, or even that the government should give the poor, some warm clothing - but that's not currently the case, and no the people are not all well enough informed to know of the potential dangers from unclean materials - so it is totally acceptable that the government should issue such a warning, and it is totally unacceptable that anyone complain about an act of common sense!

It is fair to complain if the government DOES NOT try to help people, but not when they do try to help. Be reasonable and fair.

Are you serious? You think that the poorer people of Thailand are so badly educated that they do not clean clothes and take care of their personal hygiene? Who is pulling down the Thai people here?

If Thai people get hold of some second hand winter clothes and they are dirty or smelly they get washed I am sure. If they are clean and fresh perhaps not but that would mean that they have already been washed.

So, the point is that this idiot is siting second hand foreign clothes of potentially harbouring disease.. Also the risk is not big and there will never be a huge rise in infections as you state due to clothes.

[outsider]

Ah... but it's safe to breathe hydrogen sulfite.