Nearly 500,000 Sick From Flood Related Diseases

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Public health authorities treat nearly half million flood-related patients

BANGKOK: -- The total number of patients suffering severely from flood-related diseases has soared to 472,897 as measured up to October 20, a senior Thai public health official said Sunday.

Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary for Public Health, while visiting patients at a hospital in Suphanburi province, near Bangkok, said that six central provinces, including Suphanburi, are still facing severe floods, and that hospitals have treated nearly half a million flood-related patients during the water crisis period.

Public health authorities have treated 472,897 patients up to October 20.

Nearly half of the patients--45 per cent--were suffering from hand, foot and mouth disease, 14 per cent from skin disease and 12 per cent from colds. However, he said that no patients suffering from really severe disease have been found so far.

Public Health Minister Dr. Mongkol Na Songkhla is scheduled to attend briefings on flooding situation in the six provinces on Monday, Dr. Prat said.

--TNA 2006-10-22