As South flood situation eases, officials warn of Leptospirosis threat
THE FLOOD situation in the South, which has claimed 96 lives, has improved and only six districts in three provinces are still inundated, but the Ministry of Public Health has warned residents in Prachuap Khiri Khan and 11 other southern provinces of the emerging threat of Leptospirosis.
As of January 31, a total of 157 people in the region suffered from this water-borne disease, three of whom had died (two in Krabi and one in Trang) and three others had been admitted to intensive care units, the deputy permanent secretary for Public Health, Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, said.
Krabi saw a six times increase in the number of Leptospirosis patients while there was a two-fold increase in Nakhon Si Thammarat compared to the same period last year, he added.
People who suffered from fever and muscular pain after wading through water and mud should see a doctor. If they delayed medical attention until they coughed blood or had jaundice, the risk of death would increase by 50 per cent, he warned.
The severity in many cases there had prompted officials to collect blood and urine samples for tests at labs to analyse the Leptospirosis strain, he added.
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation deputy chief Kobchai Boonyaorana yesterday reported that only Pak Phanang and Chian Yai districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat province; Banna Derm and Phunphin districts in Surat Thani province and Kuan Khanoon and Muang in Phatthalung province were still inundated.
He added that each family of the 96 who had perished in the floods would get at least Bt107,000 in compensation from related agencies.