BANGKOK, 19 June 2010 (NNT) - Dengue fever is still rampant in the South of Thailand, infecting mostly children, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
Permanent-Secretary for Public Health MD Paichit Warachit stated that dengue fever and malaria in the South were found to be more rampant than other regions due to higher rainfalls and floods. He said that the foremost priority was to destroy mosquito breeding grounds and to educate children on how to prevent themselves.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that 218 patients have been infected with dengue fever in Chaiyaphum province since the beginning of 2009. Most of the patients are children from 10-14 years old. At present, up to 6 people in the province are infected per week. Local schools have thus organized activities to raise children's awareness of the disease in order for their own protection.
Dengue fever is a virus transmitted through mosquitoes, causing symptoms of headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rash.