GEIS: Emerging
Diseases
Avian Influenza
 January
of 2004 ushered in an alarming new disease threat to Thailand
and the SE Asia region in general. Large numbers of domestic and
wild fowl where dying in the region. Originally reported as a
respiratory disease it was later verified as H5N1 influenza. The
WHO has produced a document that nicely summarizes the facts of
Avian
Influenza. WHO Avian Influenza Current
Report
The Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nation has prepared an informative
document addressing Avian
Influenza FAQ’s
Thailand
Avian Influenza information from the MoPH is available.
Malaria
 Malaria
risk exists throughout the year in rural, especially forested
and hilly, areas of the whole country, mainly towards the international
borders. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts
(e.g. Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui). You should
use repellents and treated bed nets if you are going out into
the mountainous areas and plan to overnight. General malaria advice
for travelers visiting other countries, as well as Thailand, can
be found at http://www.who.int/ith/chapter07_02.html
Specific advice and statistics for Thailand are detailed on the
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand website at http://eng.moph.go.th/SpecificHealth/malaria/malaria.htm
Following visits to areas with possible malaria risk, any episode
of fever should be considered possibly of malaria origin. A visit
should be made to a district malaria office, or nearest provincial
or district hospital for free blood examination and rapid treatment.
Contact the Tropical Disease Hospital in Bangkok (Tel: 662-246-9000
ext. 414, 415, 662-246-0321) for more information.
For the latest information on the extent of malaria transmission
in a specific area of the country, please contact the Bureau of
Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Road
Nonthaburi, Thailand 11000 (Email: pornpim@health.moph.go.th,
morning@health.moph.go.th,
or rtipmontree@hotmail.com
Tel: 662-590-3126, 662-590-3127, 662-590-3271, 662-590-3132
Fax : 662-591-8422)
Dengue (Dengue
Fever information)
 Dengue
is common everywhere in Thailand below altitudes of 600 meters,
including Bangkok. Prevalence is higher in southern Thailand.
There is no prophylaxis for dengue, so precautions should be taken
to ensure that mosquitoes won’t bite, especially during the daylight
hours (repellents are best bet). Transmission of dengue has much
to do with how residents of a particular area take care to keep
dry any objects that could collect water and serve as breeding
sites for mosquitoes. You can find more general dengue information
at http://www.who.int/ith/chapter05_02.html#dengue
For current statistics and trends prior to your trip to Thailand
please contact Office of Dengue Control, the Ministry of Public
Health, Thailand. They can be reached by
e-mail: Sthammapalo@hotmail.com
or Tel: 662-590-3102-3, 662-590-3106-7
Fax: 662-5918433
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