People in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Muang district have been advised to see doctors immediately if they have fever and leg wounds after having waded through flood waters following the discovery of several cases of leptospirosis.
Since flooding problem has eased two weeks ago, 42 people have been diagnosed of being infected with leptospirosis and, of these, 19 are currently being admitted to the provincial hospital for medical treatment with three serious cases being kept in intensive care unit.
Dr Kamrop Detrattanavichai, deputy director of Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat hospital, said he suspected the recent outbreak of leptospirosis was caused by flooded garbage in the landfill which is the source of a host of diseases, including leptospirosis.
Polluted water from the landfill has spread out of the landfill by currents during the monthlong flooding.
Health officials on Saturday visited people living in communities in close vicinity to the landfill in Tambon Na Sai and distributed anti-leptospirosis pills to them as a precautionary measure.
About 1.2 million tonnes of garbage are believed to be stored at the landfill in Tambon Na Sai, making it the fourth biggest landfill in the country.
