Chikungunya outbreak hit Songkhla
Chikungunya outbreak hit Songkhla with over 6,300 patients
SONGKHLA: — A total of 6,379 people caught the insect-borne Chikungunya virus since the beginning of this year, a senior public health official said Wednesday.
Doctor Sanphet Ritthiraksa, a specialist on preventive medicine of the Songkhla Public Health Office, said the 6,379 Chikungunya patients were detected from January 1 to April 27.
Their number breakdowns to 3,007 patients in Sabayoi district, 1,387 patients in Sadao district, 328 patients in Thepha district and 314 patients in Nathawee district.
He admitted that it was difficult to control the outbreak because of mosquitoes in rubber plantations and frequent rains in the province.
Thailand set to eradicate Chikungunya in June
BANGKOK: — Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health will kick start a campaign next month to eradicate the fast-spreading mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus which re-emerged in the kingdom’s southern border provinces at beginning of this year.
Manit Nopamornbodi, deputy public health minister, said that the campaign to eradicate the virus will begin June 1.
A viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes during the day, Chikungunya fever has hit Thailand’s Songkla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces, which have nearly 20,000 patients.
Those who suffer Chikungunya will have fever, swelling of joints, stiffness, muscular pain, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and rash.
Chikungumya, a name from the Makonde language in Mozambique, first was identified in southeastern Africa. Its symptoms are similar to dengue but it causes fewer fatalities
The deputy public health minister said that as Chikungunya fever is likely to spread to other areas, the ministry has assigned local public health office to map out a plan to prevent an outbreak of the disease, including eradication of mosquito breeding areas.
Mr. Manit said that the plan will be immediately implemented in an attempt to reduce the number of patients as much as possible.
Chikungunya spreads
The chikungunya that has ravaged Southern Thailand has spilled over, with 13 patients detected in Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen, an official said yesterday.
Most are rubber-plantation workers and soldiers returning from the South, said Disease Control Office 7 chief Dr Sarayuth Uttamangkhapong. He expressed concern that nine more people had developed chikungunya symptoms although they had not been outside their provinces.
Nakhon Ratchasima, which has had 92 dengue-fever patients this year, saw Muang district’s Tambon Jor Hor villagers making a good use of cake tins to eliminate mosquitoes.
They placed open tins lined with black cloths in dark corners of their homes to lure the insects and initially trapped 100 per container. With the lids back on, the tins were left in hot sunlight to kill the mosquitoes, making ideal fish food. The tambon has reported no single case of dengue fever.