The Ministry of Public Health has instructed its local offices nationwide to urge people to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, to prevent a dengue fever outbreak as Thailand begins easing into the rainy season.
According to the Department of Disease Control, more than 7,500 people have been infected with dengue virus since the beginning of this year with the majority of patients in the South of Thailand.
The Department of Disease Control expects the number of dengue fever patients to be higher this year. Deputy Permanent-Secretary to the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong has told the public health office in each province to encourage people to destroy the breeding grounds of aedes mosquitos around their own homes and public places.
Those infected by the virus will develop a fever with a temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius within 5-8 days after a mosquito bite. Symptoms may include red rashes, vomiting, having a headache and a runny nose. They should be taken to the hospital immediately if the fever does not come down within two days of taking medicine.
(Source: – National News Bureau Thailand)