BANGKOK, Oct. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand has been taking the initiative in guarding against dengue fever which poses greater threats this year to neighboring countries than last year, the Department of Disease Control said here Thursday.
Thailand has adopted a package of strict measures to contain dengue fever, including reining outbreak areas and reduce the number of striped 'Aedes' mosquitoes, both mosquito larvae and adults, Dr. Thawat Suntrajarn, head of the department, was quoted by Thai News Agency as saying.
Dengue fever is an mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by any of four related dengue viruses. The patient usually display symptoms like high fever, rash, headaches and severe muscle and joint pain.
Statistics show that during the first nine months of this year, more than 32,000 Thais have been infected with dengue fever, with the death toll stands at 50. Random checks in 45 provinces found that index of striped mosquito larvae in 90 percent of the surveyed areas stands at zero.
The number of mosquito larvae have been substantially reduced as its breeding grounds in houses, schools and temples were effectively eradicated, said Thawat.
Once the dengue fever patient is detected, a team of health workers will be sent to the area killing mosquitoes and destroy the breeding grounds. Villagers will be advised on how to protect themselves from the deadly mosquito borne disease, he added.
So far this year, the dengue cases in Singapore reached 12,000 with 13 reported deaths, surpassing last year's 9,500 recorded cases.
While Malaysia has reported 73 deaths and more than 28,000 infections this year.
Thailand experienced an unusually large number of infected cases in 1998, but has contained the disease since then. Enditem
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