Thailand remains on alert against emerging diseases in 2015

BANGKOK, December 29 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health says that it will remain on alert against emerging diseases in 2015, including Ebola, bird flu, influenza and dengue fever. Regarding disease outlook next year, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Disease Control, told journalists of the policy on Monday, advising people to be also cautious against the emerging diseases next year. Dr. Opas noted that the international community will be, particularly, closely monitoring the Ebola virus, especially in countries where the fatal disease has not been contained, like Sierra Leone. Dr. Opas stated that Thailand and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are joining forces to cope with the deadly disease, including joint laboratory preparations for Ebola tests. Dr. Opas assessed that an international control of Ebola is expected in mid-2015. Dr. Opas quoted the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) as reporting that 19,000 people have been infected with Ebola so far, 7,000 of them have died. Regarding avian influenza, the senior Thai health official acknowledged that there have more strains, but those found in ASEAN and Asia remain the same ones, including H5N1 and H7N9. According to the senior Thai health official, the number of influenza patients should drop next year, when the weather should be warmer, while vaccinations offered to people in risk groups are to be continued. Influenza has killed about 50 people in Thailand this year and the number of patients even exceeded 60,000 early this year due to the cold weather. The department of disease control's deputy chief also predicted that some insect-borned diseases, like dengue fever, will spread next year due to the anticipated warmer weather, which should stimulate mosquito growth. The department of disease control's deputy chief foresaw more than 40,000 dengue fever patients next year, urging the control of mosquitoes by all parties concerned. Besides, the department of disease control's deputy chief warned that the hand, foot and mouth disease should continue to attack young children next year, recommending frequent hand washing and cleaning of appliances by people to control the disease. (TNA)