Prawet district has highest number of dengue cases
PRAWET district in Bangkok has had the highest number of dengue haemorrhagic fever cases this year with 745 patients, followed by Chatuchak (651) and Bang Kapi (625) as of November 14, the Health Bureau has said.
These findings have prompted city authorities to launch intensive measures against the disease.
Dr Chawin Sirinak, deputy director of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Health Bureau, told The Nation recently that 16,633 Bangkok residents or 292 for every 100,000 individuals had caught dengue between January 4 and November 14, but only one death was reported.
Bangkok ranks 18 in the country in terms of dengue cases, while Rayong province tops the list.
Thailand reported 111,826 cases and 108 deaths by dengue as of November 17.
Chawin said the prevalence of dengue fever had doubled from last year due to two main factors: the rise in temperatures is speeding up the mosquito’s life cycle, making them grow faster and spreading the virus wider; and the emergence of a Type 4 dengue virus.
The Type 4 virus spreads very quickly due to people’s lack of immunity, he said, adding that prevalence of the disease would rise next year.
Chawin said moves were being made to contain the disease by setting up a monitoring centre at the Public Health Nursing Division in every district in the capital, while teams are being dispatched to spray mosquito repellent in districts where dengue is prevalent. To limit the spread of the disease, he said, people should get rid of open water containers, change water in vases often and put mosquito larva-eating fish in ponds.