BANGKOK, 5 June 2014 – The Disease Control Department is raising public awareness of possible disease outbreaks as the annual rainy season is approaching.
Dr. Sopon Mekthon, Director General of the Disease Control Department, has issued a health warning against possible outbreaks of nine different kinds of disease during the monsoon season, two of which are influenza and hand, foot and mouth disease. He said both of the diseases are deadly especially influenza, which has taken 59 lives in the past five months, while the total number of influenza infections reached 36,400 during the period.
Other diseases people need to be cautious about during the rainy season, according to him, are dengue fever, hepatitis, leptospirosis, pneumonia, Japanese encephalitis (JE), cholera, and malaria.
Individuals can develop a strong immune system by taking sufficient rest, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet, said the doctor, adding that one should consult a doctor immediately if he/she comes down with a disease.