ID :
335829
Sun, 07/20/2014 - 12:58
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Leptospirosis claim seven lives in first seven months of 2014

BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) - Permanent Secretary for Public Health Narong Sahametapat has warned people of leptospirosis during the current monsoon season after seven persons have died from the disease since the beginning of this year. Dr. Narong on Sunday cited statistics issued by the Public Health Ministry’s Disease Control Department as showing that 861 people in 61 provinces nationwide have suffered from the disease since this January 1 to July 14. Most of the patients were aged between 25 - 54 and majority of them were male, said Dr. Narong. More than half of the total patients were farmers, he said. Leptospirosis, or 'rat pee disease' as it is known more prosaically in Thai, is spread by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Certain occupations, such as farming, refuse collection, mining and work in abattoirs, put people particularly at risk. Symptoms can range from light headache to kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis and respiratory disease. In rare cases the disease can be fatal. Dr. Narong said the ministry has ordered every provincial public health station to instruct people on how to protect themselves from the disease. (TNA)

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