BANGKOK, 15 June 2015 – The Ministry of Public Health is urging families to destroy mosquito breeding grounds every 7 days in an attempt to keep dengue fever at bay during the rainy season.
The Public Health Minister, Dr. Ratchata Ratchatanawin, said the ASEAN community has announced June 15th each year as ‘ASEAN Dengue Day’ in order to raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease. More than 200,000 people in ASEAN reportedly come down with the fever each year.
According to the Department of Disease Control, 17,000 people in Thailand have contracted the disease from January until June 9th this year. 11 people have succumbed to the fever. The Public Health Minister claimed the number of patients could rise to as many as 70,000 people in Thailand if there were no public involvement in preventing the disease.
People have been urged to destroy mosquito larvae every 7 days and keep themselves healthy during the rainy season. Regional public health offices have also been instructed to educate and inform people of the cause of dengue fever, and what they can do to protect themselves.
The Ministry will dispatch a mobile unit to an infected area within 24 hours of the report, to assist those infected and make sure the potential breeding grounds for the insects are destroyed. Dengue fever symptoms include high fever, headache, eye sore, muscle pains, nausea and red rashes.
