The Director of Disease Control Department, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, says that Thailand has encountered rain continuously in many areas causing floods and pools of water, which creates mosquito breeding areas and mosquito is the medium for several diseases such as dengue, zika fever, and Chikungunya – all quite nasty viruses and can cause severe pain and illness in all three cases.
In Thailand, from January 1 until today, there have been 19,380 infected patients with Dengue fever, and 16 people are dead as a result of their infections. This year, Dr. Opas reports, there are an increasing number of patients from last year (167%), mainly because of the Covid-19 restrictions have been relaxed, allowing people to head outdoors more often.
The survey by the Public Health Ministry shows that 40% – 60% of schools, temples, hotels, resorts, factories and government offices all have mosquito breeding grounds in some form, which increases the number of mosquitos and the spreading of dengue fever this year.
Dr. Opas said that the department is urging officials from public health offices to strengthen the protection measures to control dengue fever by destroying all the breeding grounds – keeping pooling areas for water dry.
He’s also asking the public to follow his suggestion by keeping the house clean without dark or damp spots, avoid leaving still water for a long time or put a cover on the area, removing any containers that could become a breeding ground, and use protections such as mosquito repellents, sleep in bed nets, wear long sleeves, etc. HERE are some good tips too.
Symptoms of dengue usually develop suddenly, about 5 to 8 days after you become infected.
Symptoms can include…
- a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
- a severe headache
- pain behind the eyes
- muscle and joint pain
- feeling or being sick
- a widespread red rash
- tummy pain and loss of appetite
