Dengue danger: nearly 600 patients infected so far this year

[webfact]

Dengue danger: nearly 600 patients infected so far this year
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Thai health officials are stepping up prevention measures against dengue after 583 new cases of the fever were recorded between Jan. 1 and 11 this year.

Permanent Secretary of Public Health Dr Sopon Mekthon said the number of patients could soar to 166,000 this year - comparable with the last big outbreak in 1987, when there were about 170,000 cases.

Last year there were 140,000 cases of dengue, according to Dr Usa Thisyakorn at Chulalongkorn University, who is also chairwoman of Asian Dengue Vaccination Advocacy (ADVA).

Dr Sopon said most of the patients this year were aged between 15 and 24, and added that young people were the most at risk from the mosquito-borne disease.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/01/20/dengue-danger-nearly-600-patients-infected-so-far-year


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-01-20

[max72]

Very scaring. Even the dry season is not spared by this outbreak.

I have talked with few Thais and they seem to be unaware of what the dengue fever is.

I think the prevention campaign and education is really bad.

[Roota]

I have talked with few Thais and they seem to be unaware of what the dengue fever is.

Perhaps a failure to communicate? I'd be very surprised to meet any Thai who didn't know ไข้เลือดออก (khâi lêuat àwk) and most have a healthy fear of it. What many don't know unfortunately is how to protect themselves.

[soalbundy]

i had dengue fever when i was 62 so i don't think there is an age barrier where you can feel safe

[Emster23]

Hmm 140,000 last year works out to 383 per day. This is 10 or 11 day period, so if same as last year number would be 3,830 or 4,219. Reported number that is alarming people (583) is 15% of low ball figure for same length of time. They should be celebrating, not wringing hands.

[tonray]

Very scaring. Even the dry season is not spared by this outbreak.

I have talked with few Thais and they seem to be unaware of what the dengue fever is.

I think the prevention campaign and education is really bad.

Dry Season ?

In BKk it has rained or showered every day for the past week ! No winter, no dry season, nada this year.

[ggt]

Completely lost a couple of weeks of my life to Dengue fever...barley had enough energy to make it to the toilet...drinking water and sleeping day and night...once able to walk again...I was weak and frail for several months thereafter...nasty stuff...would not like to go there again...

[beerzy]

Hmm 140,000 last year works out to 383 per day. This is 10 or 11 day period, so if same as last year number would be 3,830 or 4,219. Reported number that is alarming people (583) is 15% of low ball figure for same length of time. They should be celebrating, not wringing hands.

ahh yes but still low infection rate for a population of 58 million.

[TomJoad]

Had heard there was a promising new vaccine for dengue being tested, but didn't realize Mexico just started using it. 60% effective, apparently.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dengue-fever-vaccine-first-approved-mexico_us_5669a8f0e4b080eddf57377c

[deckape]

I put screens on my porches. The owner of the builder's supply laughed at me. Said it would be too hot. Smh.

Edited January 20, 2016 by deckape

[farcanell]

Had heard there was a promising new vaccine for dengue being tested, but didn't realize Mexico just started using it. 60% effective, apparently.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dengue-fever-vaccine-first-approved-mexico_us_5669a8f0e4b080eddf57377c

They say that at 60% it has a low success rate... But with the quoted number of deaths at 22,000 a year, that's 13,200 lives saved.

[hawker9000]

I put screens on my porches. The owner of the builder's supply laughed at me. Said it would be too hot. Smh.

To a point, he might be right. Selection of the actual screening material matters. Months ago I found a website that compared & rated screening products from some different vendors side-by-side for their performance in sun-blocking, airflow, & some other characteristics. Probably couldn't find the website again in a hundred years, but my takeaway was to definitely not just grab whatever's on the home store's shelves and not use the same stuff necessarily for every application.