Thailand watches out leptospirosis

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health has ordered health officials and volunteers nationwide to watch out leptospirosis, while advising people to keep their houses clean to prevent mice, the carrier of the deadly disease. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Suwannachai Wattanayingjaroenchai, who is also the ministry's spokesman, told journalists that leptospirosis is an endemic disease which could be found throughout the year, especially during the rainy season or during July-September yearly. Dr. Suwannachai explained that the rainy season usually comes with inundations in several areas and farmers have to spend their times in the disease-prone mud and water. Dr. Suwannachai also advised people, particularly farmers, to avoid places where mice are hidden, while instructing local public health officials and volunteers to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas and inculcate the public on how to protect themselves from the disease in order to prevent deaths or injuries. The senior official also suggested if any person found to have suspicious symptoms of the disease in any area, authorities must immediately probe the case to prevent any outbreak and if there is any death caused by the disease, local authorities must verify the cause of the death and report verification results to the Public Health Ministry's Bureau of Epidemiology for further action to prevent or control the fatal disease. According to official statistics,there are 2,176 leptospirosis patients in 67 Thai provinces last year, 33 of which died, and during January 1-11, 2016, there were 12 patients of the disease in nine Thai provinces. (TNA)