By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Thailand health officials have reported nearly 50,000 dengue fever cases since the beginning of the year, and now health officials  it will find measures to contain dengue fever quickly.

Aedes aegypti
Image/CDC

To date, the Thailand Ministry of Health reports 49,174 cases with 64 deaths.

Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, while visiting patients diagnosed with dengue fever at hospitals in Loei province on Saturday, said he has instructed health state agencies to place dengue surveillance system nationwide, and to report the number of new infections should an outbreak occur.

“Local authorities and volunteers across the country will spray chemicals to kill mosquitoes,” said Anutin, adding “especially with the present raining season, residents will be advised to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds in and around their houses.”

It is estimated that the number of patients could reach 130,000 cases for the entire year.

Bangkok to Chiang Rai

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. Approximately, half of the world’s population is at risk and it affects infants, young children and adults. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world’s population at risk.