ID :
323792
Tue, 04/08/2014 - 20:47
Auther :

Thailand observes World Health Day 2014, launches campaign against vector-borne diseases

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, April 8 (TNA) - Thailand observed World Health Day 2014, which fell on April 7, by, among other activities, organising the World Health Day 2014 Exhibition at the Thai Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok's adjacent Nonthaburi Province on Tuesday. Opened by Deputy Permanent-Secretary for Public Health Dr. Songyot Chaichana and his entourage, the exhibition was focused on creating public awareness on the prevention and control of mosquitoes and insects which are the causes of several vector-borne diseases. Dr. Songyot said that Thailand, through the Ministry of Public Health, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has also organised another activity themed “Small Bite, Big Threat”, as part of the campaign against the vector-borne diseases, especially dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, elephantiasis and malaria. Under the campaign, people are urged to follow simple steps to combat the vector-borne diseases, in order to reduce human infections and deaths. Official statistics showed that there were 3,790 dengue fever patients in Thailand in the first quarter of this year. Globally, a total of 170,051 people were infected with vector-borne diseases in 2013, most of whome were victims of dengue fever, the highest record in 20 years, and 159 of them died, followed by 14,741 victims of malaria, six of whom died. To reduce mosquito-borne diseases in humans, the Thai Ministry of Public Health ordered public health offices in every province to seek cooperation from locals to destroy mosquitoes breeding grounds every seven days, along with keeping the environment clean, reducing the amount of garbage and wastewater sources.(TNA)

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