Mr. Jeeraphat said extensive, large-scale tests will be needed in malaria-prone provinces to root out existing cases. These include with parasites but show no symptoms of the disease yet.
Francois Nosten, a researcher at Oxford University and director of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit in Mae Sot, Tak province, said 80% of parasites infecting people along the Thai-Myanmar border havr become resistance rate has increased sharply since 2003.
The Global Fund To Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has allocated US$10 million (33 million baht) to finance Thailand's fight against drug-resistant malaria over the next two years.
Aligning itself with World Heath Organisation recommendation, the Global Fund is seeking to administer anti-parasite drungs to entire populations living in infected areas, which Mr Nosten said is important to do before the medicine becomes obsolete.
But Mr Jeeraphat belived mass drug administration is unlike to be successful in Thailand because there is so much crossborder movement among the migrant labour force.
Wichai Satimai, a DDC adviser, said the provinces are unlike to get sufficient community buy-in.