Health officials looking out against chickenpox; outbreaks likely during cold season

BANGKOK, 9 December 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health is monitoring possible outbreaks of chickenpox during the cold season, in response to the numerous cases of the disease reported since the beginning of the year.

Dr. Narong Sahamethaphat, permanent secretary of the public health ministry, has told health officials to closely keep an eye on the disease and to raise public awareness about the illness. All hospitals have been asked to prepare measures to accommodate chickenpox patients, in order to minimize fatalities. Dr. Narong indicated that the virus that causes chickenpox, varicella zoster, is easily spread in moist, cool weather and therefore outbreaks easily come about during the cold season.

Figures from the Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health indicates there were 79,301 chickenpox patients from January to the end of November. On average, 244 persons are afflicted with the disease each day; this number is 37% higher than that from 2013. Most patients were aged between 7 and 24, although groups that require special caution include infants and persons with low immunity.

Dr. Sophon Mekthon, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said those infected with the disease should take a break from school or work until the skin rash or blisters have gone away for at least one day. Parents are also advised to have children aged 1 to 12 years vaccinated.


-- NNT 2014-12-09

Why don't they get it out of the way as kids? We were sent to play with people we didn't know. The only qualification needed was to have chickenpox

F. these people. They warn against outbreaks, advise to vaccinate children. What these inbred imbeciles don't mention is the fact that the chickenpox vaccine hasn't been available in Thailand for the last 6 months!