Thailand records 12,000 HFMD cases in 2012

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, director-general of Thai Public Health Ministry’s Disease Control Department says some 12,000 people have suffered from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) since the beginning of this year, mostly in the North and Northeastern regions. Dr. Pornthep told reporters Saturday his department plans to set up a war room next week with an aim to issue measures to contain spread of the disease among students after some schools have refused to temporarily close them even many students have contracted it. Dr. Pornthep said he plans to seek permission from Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri so that the war room could be established next week after several Cambodian children have died from Enterovirus 71, the dangerous HFMD strain. On people suffering from dengue fever in the northern province of Phayao, the number has risen to 146. No death was reported while more than 14,600 provincial public health and concerned officials have distributed pamphlets to people to accelerate on destroying striped mosquitoes as monsoon season has already started. Meanwhile, health officials went around the northeastern district of Kamalasai of Kalasin province and informed villagers to improve waterways and to also destroy garbage in their villages. The officials also told them to stay alert for a bird flu disease which might occur during the rainy season. (TNA)