Thai border areas remain on alert against HFMD

NONG KHAI, THAILAND, August 8 (TNA) - Officials of an international disease control station here have remained on high alert to closely monitor and prevent any outbreak of a lethal strain of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) from neighboring Lao PDR. A team of the officials, led by the station's chief Somjit Panpho, on Wednesday screened children who were crossing the border from Laos to prevent the HFMD and other communicable diseases. The officials also provided tanks of germ killer solution to customs and immigration officers working along the Thai-Lao border to be used for a clean-up at several public service points, including those located at Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges. Somjit told reporters that there have been no HFMD patients in areas along the Thai-Lao border in Nong Khai over the past month, but his office has constantly dispatched officials to screen cross-border travelers, particularly children, and to provide guidance for the general public on basic healthcare; while regularly conducting clean-up activities at customs and immigration check points along the border. (TNA)