Thailand controls dengue fever

BANGKOK, August 24 (TNA) - People have been urged to weekly get rid of logged water sources where mosquitoes grow to prevent dengue fever in their respective areas. Thai Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Sahametapat suggested on Monday that all parties help eliminate logged water sources at houses, communities, schools, daycare centers and hospitals to prevent and contain dengue fever. Dr. Narong told journalists that he has also ordered hospital staff nationwide to quickly identify dengue fever patients to minimize the mortality rate, after the number of dengue fever patients has doubled since early this year, exceeding 50,000 in nearly eight months. Dr. Narong said that from January to August 18, 2015, the accumulated number of dengue fever patients in Thailand has stood at 51,500, 37 of whom have died, with the largest proportion of patients reported in the central region, followed by those in the Northeast, the North and the South and most patients aged 10-14 years old. Dr. Narong assessed that the accumulated number of dengue fever patients nationwide could reach 70,000 throughout this year, noting that about 80 per cent of patients contracted the disease from common house mosquitoes which bit them at day, warning that former patients could also fall ill with the disease again. (TNA)