By NewsDesk @bactiman63
The Thailand Department of Disease Control (DDC) reports that from January 1st to May 27th, 23,622 dengue fever cases, including 30 deaths have been recorded, local media reports (computer translated).
This compares with 17,302 patients and 21 confirmed deaths reported during the same period last year.
Most patients were in the central region followed by the northeastern and the southern regions respectively.
Nakhon Ratchasima province has the highest number of patients, 1,424 cases, followed by Ubon Ratchathani province (1,267).
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
In Bangkok alone, nearly 900 cases of dengue and one mortality were reported from January to March, according to the Bangkok Health Department.
Four types of dengue viruses have been found in Thailand. After getting infected with one kind of dengue, an individual is immune to it but remains susceptible to the other types.
Officials are revealing an increased risk of dengue as Thailand has entered the rainy season (monsoon) officially by the Meteorological Department’s announcement since late May.
Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. DDC says common symptoms include abrupt high grade fever that lasts 2 to 5 days, headache, eye socket pain, body ache, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, coughing without running nose, facial skin redness, skin petechiae on arms, legs, and joints.
For patients with the warning signs, occurring especially when temperature declines, including bleeding from nose or gums,drowsiness or irritability, pale, cold, or clammy skin or difficulty breathing, and shock, a special medical care at the hospital for life saving is urgently needed. The patients with high risk of dengue complications and severe illness are those with chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart diseases, obesity, asthma, alcoholism, thalassemia, those who had previous dengue infection and patients with delay hospital visit.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) strongly advises people to protect themselves and their children well from mosquito bites. DDC urges people in all households, communities, and workplaces toroutinely eliminate mosquito breeding sites using the mosquito control measure called “3 Do’s to prevent 3 diseases (dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus)”, i.e. 1) cover water-storage containers, change water in small containers every 7 days and eliminate all outdoor mosquito breeding sites, 2) dispose garbage properly, and 3) keep houses tidy without any corners suitable for mosquitoes to rest.
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