Chonburi mobilizes to quell dengue fever epidemic

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With dengue fever infection rates five times the government limit, Chonburi officials are mobilizing to curtail the spread of the deadly disease.

Chonburi Administrative Organization President Wittaya Kunplome launched the Dengue Fever Treatment Project March 29 where district, sub-district officials and public heath officials heard lectures about the spread of the disease and drafted rules on how to implement a treatment program.

Among the lecturers was Chonburi Physicians for Provincial Health’s Marut Jirasetsiri, Benjawan Wicharanapanya, head of the Disease Control Division at Chonburi Public Health; and Ronapong Thaitae, a public health technical expert.

Chonburi Administrative Organization President Wittaya Kunplome (right) along with government and health officials are banding together to battle dengue fever. Chonburi Administrative Organization President Wittaya Kunplome (right) along with government and health officials are banding together to battle dengue fever.

As of December, an average of 207 out of every 100,000 people in Chonburi had contracted dengue fever and 0.8 percent of them died. The Public Health Ministry considers an infection rate higher than 40 people per 100,000 too much.

More than 300 public health professionals around the province will cooperate in monitoring the disease. Funds will also be made available to bolster the efforts of local governments to battle dengue. Chonburi will also provide local agencies with treated sand and pesticides to kill the mosquitoes that carry the disease. (PRD)