Dengue fever outbreak expected
Dengue fever has claimed 18 of the 17,086 patients this year, which is considerably more than the number affected in the same period last year, Bureau of Vector Borne Diseases Director Dr Wichai Satimai said.
He said the number of people who have died from dengue fever Type III, which is a more severe infection, mostly took place in the South. The Type III virus seems to be on the rise and the authorities will be handing out a handbook to help diagnose the disease. He has also urged communities to destroy mosquito larvae.
Chiang Mai health official Dr Wattana Kanchanakamol said that so far 200 dengue fever infections have been reported and the numbers are expected to rise in the JulySeptember period, which is why his office is campaigning for people to take protective measures. Citing the trend of a dengue fever outbreak occurring every other year – 2010 saw 6,000 patients and three deaths, and 2011 only saw 600 patients and no deaths – he said this year could result in a severe outbreak and hence officials should destroy larvae and fumigate homes.
