BANGKOK – The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is preparing to promote public awareness of Zika fever and ways to avoid infection after a Thai citizen was diagnosed with the disease.
DDC Director-General Dr Amnuay Gajeena stated that the department has held a discussion with related officials regarding a recent case where a Thai man was quarantined in Taiwan after being found to have Zika fever upon his arrival in the country. Those attending the meeting included members of the DDC advisory board, university professors, Bangkok city officials and representatives of various units under the Public Health Ministry.
The discussion was aimed at drawing up preventive measures against an outbreak of Zika fever. A DDC announcement will soon be issued in a bid to provide the public with general knowledge of the disease.
Zika fever first emerged in Thailand in 2012 and can now be found in any region, with an infection rate of five persons per year. The disease is caused by Zika virus carried by Aedes mosquitoes. There is no medicine or vaccine for the disease, and patients only need to rely on symptomatic treatment.
Symptoms of Zika fever include high fever, skin rashes, pink eye and joint pain. The disease is considered not dangerous to most patients, except pregnant women. As a precautionary measure, people are advised to protect themselves against mosquito bites and get rid of mosquito larvae around their homes.
