Thailand watches out communicable diseases

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) - Thailand’s Public Health Ministry will provide diethylcarbamazine (DEC) to migrant workers infected with Elephantiasis in an effort to prevent the spreading of the disease in the country. Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sinthawanarong told reporters Saturday that he has assigned his ministry’s Department of Disease Control to provide diagnostic tests for the disease to all documented migrant workers on a six month basis and to give those infected workers with the DEC medication to help prevent the disease from spreading to Thai people. Meanwhile, Bureau of General Communicable Department Director-General Opas Karnkawingpong said his bureau is also providing influenza vaccinations for people at risk of flu infections from May 27- September 30, 2013 as the rain season comes. Opas said a total of 3.5 million doses of influenza vaccines have been imported and they will be given to the public who are over 65 years old, women over four months pregnant, children aged from six months to 12 years old, patients of chronic disease and female medical personnel. The senior health official reported that there have been only some 10,000 patients infected with influenza this year, thanks to the country’s hot weather. Thai health officials have also closely monitored bird flu, coronavirus, dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease in the country, as the new school term has started. (TNA)