Thailand on high alert against dengue fever

BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Public Health, has been on high alert against dengue fever, which has killed over 60 people nationwide so far. Thai Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sukhum Kanchanaphimai told journalists on July 14 that he has ordered all hospitals and other relevant agencies under his ministry's jurisdiction to implement intensified measures to cope with dengue fever patients and suspected cases in their respective areas. Dr. Sukhum stated that the measures he has ordered include setting up the "dengue corner" at each hospital to screen, monitor, take care and provide proper advice to patients and suspected cases. Besides, dengue fever-specialized physicians have been assigned to station at the "dengue corner" to take close care of serious cases and those of vulnerable groups, namely young children and the elderly, and to supervise the timely treatment of dengue fever cases. According to the senior official, the measures also include public campaigns to seek cooperation from local communities and all other sectors to prevent and eliminate sources of the aedes aegypti mosquito or the common house mosquito, the carrier of the dengue virus. "The number of dengue fever patients is likely to be on the rise in all Thai provinces because this year is a normal biennial circle of dengue fever outbreaks in the country", said the senior official. The senior official advised that people with suspected symtoms of dengue fever, like having a high fever for more than two days, or feeling fatigued and listless with urine turbidity, despite a then lower fever, to quickly see their doctors. The senior official, meanwhile, asked clinics and drug stores not to sell nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), namely aspirin and brufen, to suspected dengue fever cases as their conditions may become worsen by the non-prescribed medicine. (TNA)