Public Health Ministry warns Thais of six diseases in the coming summertime

[Admin]

Public Health Ministry warns Thais of six diseases in the coming summertime
By Sodchuen Limkriangkrai
NNT 2011-03-06

BANGKOK, MARCH 06 2011 (NNT)- Deputy Public Health Minister, Dr. Phansiri Kulnatsiri, says that summer is getting closer and it is the season in which harmful bacteria tend to develop, especially in water shortage areas, which can trigger a risk in spreading food and water borne diseases. Therefore, people should be specifically careful about food and drink sanitations.

Doctors said one should practice a simple principle in daily routine; eat warm and well cooked food. Food that is not eaten right away, should be kept in refrigerator and warmed before eating. Use common table spoon when eating in a group, wash hands before eating and after using the toilet and drink only clean water.

The Ministry also assigned Communicable Disease Control department to announce to the public prevention measures for diseases which often occurred annually during summer, the diseases are diarrhea, food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid, cholera, and hydrophobia. The public health offices in all parts of country will deal with 3 issues; Publicize and instruct people nationwide in order to prevent illness, pay attention to sanitation in food, drinks, water supply, and also in fresh market and public toilets , and to keep an eye on the condition of patients closely.

Furthermore, if there are any report on patients affected by the diseases, they should be immediately referred to a medical team.

[isanbirder]

Leptospirosis should be added to this list.  The virus is carried in rat's urine, and the disease is usually transmitted through a lesion in the skin of a person wading in water where there have been rats around (read, rice paddies).  Several hundred people die of this in Isan annually.