Dengue and cholera outbreaks bring warnings after 30 die

[hhfarang]

This is a news story but I put it here because it is health related. If it should be in "News" mods, please move it there.

Dengue and cholera outbreaks bring warnings after 30 die
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry has ordered its officials across the country to keep a close eye on the outbreak of two communicable diseases, dengue fever and cholera, following reports these illnesses have killed 30 people over the past six months.

Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said 26,185 dengue fever infection cases had been reported and six people had died during the past week alone. Two victims were in Songkhla province and one each in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Chai Nat.

The Ministry reported the Central region was the hardest hit with 9,823 cases, followed by 6,976 in the South, 6,579 in the Northeast, and 2,807 in the North.

Deputy Health Minister Pannasiri Kullanartsiri said people aged between 15 and 24 were the most vulnerable to dengue fever infection, followed by children between 10 to 14, and those from 5 to 9.

Jurin added he had also ordered public health officials to monitor the spread of cholera after reports of five deaths. Three cases were in Pattani and the rest in Songkhla and Tak.

Officials reported 982 people infected by the food-borne disease during the past six months. Among the infected, 708 were Thai, and 274 migrant workers.

Southern region has the highest number of people infected with cholera with 505 cases, followed by the North with 279, the Northeast with 166, and the Central region with 32 cases.

A cholera outbreak in 2007 infected 986 people and seven people died. The number of infections was reduced in 2008 to 200, and in 2009 to 300 cases, with 2-3 deaths a year.

The Public Health Ministry has issued a warning to people to protect themselves from infection by eating cooked and hot food, using a middle spoon and washing hands frequently.

For exported food products, Department of Disease Control's director-general Dr Manit Teeratantikanont said the department had strictly checked bacterial contamination among exports. Any food products with bacteria contamination would not be allowed to leave the country.

[PeteC]

Yes, dengue is everywhere. A woman who owns a shop next to my daughters school came down with it, then a teenage girl who lives in a house just behind the same shop. One stroke of luck is that my daughters school is now on summer break until late August.

Concerning cholera, I used to get vaccine shots for that every 6 months when here with the military. I assume they're still available. Pete

[Aussie Mark]

I have just returned from Bali and dengue fever is rife over there at the minute .None of us caught it ,but my sister returned 2 weeks ago and has caught it. Bloody Mossies

[pharvey]

Some detailed information on Dengue Fever here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever

Over the last couple of years there have been rumours of the spread into south-west China as far up as Chengdu.

[usual suspect]

I had Dengue just before Songkran last year, the Mrs took me straight to HH Poly-clinic,got English-speaking Doc,& was well pleased with the service/attention they gave me there.
(Bit scary when Doc tells you by how much your platelet-count has diminished since previous days test!)
IF YOU GET BAD FLU SYMPTOMS & FEEL COLD..GO GET A BLOOD-TEST

[Big Boy]

Is there any update on the cholera outbreak please? We're going for our jabs prior to visiting Thailand tomorrow afternoon, and I'm wondering if I should insist on a cholera jab, which is optional and only given if there's an outbreak.

[chopsticks]

What jabs are needed for Thailand ? I wasn't aware of anything required for the main tourist areas.

[Big Boy]

According to MASTA, the following are recommended:

Diphtheria - Tetanus - Hepatitis A - Typhoid Fever

The following are to be considered:

Hepatitis B - Rabies - Cholera - Japanese Encephalitis - Tuberculosis

[PeteC]

I haven't seen anything about Cholera BB since the above article. I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think typhoid is appropriate or needed, that one isn't even in the child vaccine package to my memory. Tetanus, Hep A, ok and TB wouldn't hurt. The rest I would forget about. You can always get the rabies after the rabid Thai girl or farang bites you. Pete

[Big Boy]

Thanks Pete. We're usually pretty well up to date on the 'recommended' - just a booster some years. Cholera is the only one of the 'to be considered' that I needed to know about.

[PeteC]

Found this for comparison. It's identical to what about half a dozen other sites state. Pete

Hepatitis A Recommended for all travelers

Typhoid For travelers who may eat or drink outside major restaurants and hotels

Yellow fever Required for all travelers greater than one year of age arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas. Not recommended otherwise.

Japanese encephalitis For travelers who may spend a month or more in rural areas and for short-term travelers who may spend substantial time outdoors in rural areas, especially after dusk

Hepatitis B Recommended for all travelers

Rabies For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given

Tetanus-diphtheria Revaccination recommended every 10 years

[chopsticks]

I've never bothered with any of those recommendations and probably most tourists don't either.
If you're going way off the beaten track or hiking then maybe reconsider.
You could also be guided by what the resident population do.

[Big Boy]

That looks pretty good to me, although cholera isn't mentioned.

When we've visited Mrs BB's village for a period, they've insisted we have Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis jabs.

Hepatitis B is the surprise to me. Only Mrs BB has had that one, and that was when she rushed out to Thailand to visit her father who was dying with an unknown liver disease - the GP wasn't taking any chances with her. However, it's too late for us to have that one now - the vaccine is given in a couple of doses, and we couldn't gain full protection now (Mrs BB didn't have full protection when she went either, but the risk was considered very extreme).

The NHS in the UK use the MASTA report ie you buy a report off MASTA (£3.99) and take it to your GP. The GP uses the MASTA recommendation when deciding which jabs to give.

[Big Boy]

I've never bothered with any of those recommendations and probably most tourists don't either.
If you're going way off the beaten track or hiking then maybe reconsider.
You could also be guided by what the resident population do.

Why not? They don't cost anything, and insurance might not cover you if you are unlucky enough to contract one of those diseases. Personal choice I suppose.

[BaaBaa.]

My Missus was up in the Boonies about 3 weeks ago, little lad wasn't well at all, he's two and a half years old.

She took him to the hospital, not a backwater shack, one of the main hospitals in Buriram.

I get a text "The Doctor says Hemorrhagic Fever" Well Hemorrhage doesn't sound good, I googled it, Dengue fever! Can kill! etc etc.

He was out in 2 days, a day later running around like normal.

Does this count as another case of DHF? How many are wrongly diagnosed?