Thai authorities to keep close watch on Ebola, bird flu next year

[webfact]

Thai authorities to keep close watch on Ebola, bird flu next year
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 30 -- Thais are advised to be cautious about Ebola, bird flu, influenza and hemorrhagic fever in 2015.

Regarding the disease outlook next year, Opart Karnkawinpong, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the international community will closely monitor the Ebola virus, especially in the countries where it could not be contained, like Sierra Leone.

He said that Ebola would be brought under control in the middle of next year, and that Thailand and other ASEAN member states were joining forces to cope with the disease.

Their cooperation includes laboratory preparation for Ebola tests.

Dr Opart cited World Health Organization reports that 19,000 people had been infected with Ebola and 7,000 died.

Regarding avian influenza, he said that there were more strains but those in Southeast Asia and Asia remained the same: H5N1 and H7N9.



Dr Opart commented that the number of influenza patients should drop next year because it would be warmer, but vaccination for people in risk groups must continue, he said.

This year influenza killed about 50 persons in Thailand and the number of patients exceeded 60,000 early this year due to cold weather.

He projects that some insect-carried diseases like hemorrhagic fever will spread next year due to warmer weather that will stimulate mosquito growth.

More than 40,000 fever patients are expected next year, he said, urging the control of mosquitoes, the carrier.

Dr Opart also warned that the hand, foot and mouth disease would continue to attack young children next year and he recommended frequent hand washing and the cleaning of appliances to control it. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-12-30

[Bocking]

Instead of simply 'Keeping a close watch', why doesn't Thailand do the right thing? They should produce and distribute their vaccine for Ebola and then, maybe, 4.7 Billion of the World's 6 Billion people might really support the current Government.

Surely, when Thailand claimed to have invented a cure for Ebola, they didn't mean 'INVENTED' in the literal sense?

Thainess rocks

[binjalin]

why? they found the cure right? national TV coverage? or did the cure find them? 'chicken and egg'? anyway Ebola has been banned in Thailand as it's not 'happy'

[catterwell]

Judging from the picture, I'd agree: that's a "close watch".

[ikke]

Soon the Gen. will announce a crackdown on Ebola and bird flu, and all people will be happy.

[Pib]

Someone just needs to file a complaint against Ebola, bird flu, and influenza and then the govt will resolve them. Plus, it would up their stats on complaints resolved.

[Squeegee]

Ebola and bird flu are no threat to Thailand: they can just be moved to inactive posts.

[chainarong]

One can be sure these and other viruses that are known to man are always lurking in the shadows , swine flu is always present in colds, pigeons are a big carrier of Bird flu, all it needs is the correct set of circumstances and it becomes a plague, Thailand is up with the international health requirements, they have been so far and they have a good track record.

[outsider]

Soon the Gen. will announce a crackdown on Ebola and bird flu, and all people will be happy.

If 'attitude adjustment' doesn't work, that is...

[Emster23]

I know I for one feel so much safer with this announcement....

[falangjim]

Well done! I haven't seen so many funny posts in a row in quite a while. Wow, I'm in stitches. (no, that's not sarcasm) FUNNY STUFF!