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    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Dengue in Chiang Mai

    So what's the scoop?

    The latest edition of the Chiang Mai Mail is on the newstands. Latest reports from the Mayor on dengue in Chiang Mai.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Found said article online so I've answered my own question.

    Well done Harry, very quick response.



    Rainy season brings Dengue fever to Chiang Mai
    The Municipality has begun spraying around temples, schools and public areas to reduce dengue fever mosquitoes. (Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality).
    By Shana Kongmun and Nopniwat Krailerg
    As the rainy season starts up in earnest the numbers of dengue fever cases reported in the city continue to rise Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn reported to the Chiang Mai Mail in a recent interview. Dengue fever is on the rise nationwide with the Department of Public Health reporting over 17 000 cases of dengue fever this year with 18 deaths, a higher rate of infection than the same time last year and affecting more adults than children.

    The Mayor pointed out that most people make the mistake of thinking dengue mosquitoes bite at night, “People use mosquito nets when they sleep at night but the mosquito bites in the day time.”
    The Chiang Mai Mayor reports on the latest numbers of reported cases of dengue fever to Chiang Mai Mail Managing Editor Shana Kongmun
    He said the city has over 300,000 people in 40sqkm so education is the best method to prevent the rise of dengue fever. “We have 40,000 households in Chiang Mai; we need the help of the people to control the birth of mosquito larvae. We have to give out information as we can’t possibly visit them all.”

    A campaign has been launched at schools to remind students that dengue mosquitoes breed in even the smallest pool of water, so to dump the water out of any buckets, cups, potted plants, in fact anything that can hold water. Also to teach that mosquitoes bite in the day time, so people must use mosquito repellent even in the daytime, although the Mayor pointed out they had found mosquitoes with the dengue virus out at 8 p.m. “They are adapting, so we must be careful,” he noted.

    Dr. Atthapol Cheepsattayakorn, Deputy Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 10 Chiang Mai, said that the 8 Northern Provinces had 511 reported cases of dengue fever with no deaths reported from January to June 30, 2012. Phrae had the highest infection rate followed by Nan, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Lamphun, respectively.

    Mayor Tussanai pointed out that this is simply reported cases, those who went to the hospital and were diagnosed with the disease. “Many people do not get a serious case and are strong so they do not go to the hospital and it is not included in the numbers. I think the real infection rate must be higher.”

    He noted that the main concern was to minimize the number of patients, with education and prevention by spraying around schools, temples and community areas, was to reduce the breeding grounds of mosquito larvae, Chiang Mai can help fight dengue. He added that while the mosquito born disease Chikungunya has been spreading in the South there has only been only one reported case in Chiang Mai, a few months ago.

    Dengue fever is characterized by a high fever, rash, painful joints, and severe headaches. It is also known as “Breakbone fever” because patients report severe pain in the bones and joints, as if they were breaking. Normally lasting 2-7 days, the disease is characterized by a high fever, 40 C (104 F). In some the disease can proceed to critical resulting in internal and external bleeding and fluid in the lungs. Patients who begin to bleed or who feel severely ill should go to the hospital immediately.

    The number of cases in Chiang Mai currently stands at 97 year to date. The number of reports of dengue fever begin to rise in June; June saw 45 cases reported in the city, while by the 16th of July there were 38 reported cases and the numbers are expect to peak in August.

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