Pattaya city, medical officials raise alert on dengue

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Soaring numbers of dengue fever cases in Thailand this year prompted Pattaya’s city and medical officials to step up their awareness campaign.

City councilmen Ithiwat Wattanasartsathorn and Banjong Banthoonprayuk joined Pattaya deputy spokesman Damrongkiat Pinitkarn at a Nov. 18 news conference with doctors from Banglamung, Pattaya, and Bangkok hospitals, officers from the Disease Control Center, and volunteers from the Surveillance and Rapid Response Team.

Ithiwat said 200 cases of dengue were reported between August and October, with no fatalities.

(L to R) City councilmen Banjong Banthoonprayuk and Ithiwat Wattanasartsathorn join Pattaya deputy spokesman Damrongkiat Pinitkarn to announce Pattaya’s city and medical officials are stepping up their dengue fever awareness campaign.(L to R) City councilmen Banjong Banthoonprayuk and Ithiwat Wattanasartsathorn join Pattaya deputy spokesman Damrongkiat Pinitkarn to announce Pattaya’s city and medical officials are stepping up their dengue fever awareness campaign.

Most patients were 10-35 years old and did not suffer any severe cases from the four dengue strains.

Dengue is surging in Thailand, with the Thai Red Cross Society saying that, as of Nov. 17, the number of dengue patients this year stood at 111,826, a 207.2% increase from 2014’s total.

Symptoms include sudden fever for up to a week with loss of appetite, headache, and stomach sickness.

If these symptoms appear, patients should see a doctor immediately.