Three border regions, where vaccination rates are typically small, reported five casualties.
PUBLISHED: 7 Sep 2024 at 21: 01
Following the recent outbreak of influenza in Thailand’s three southern provinces, five people died in a massive vaccination campaign.
Three of the five patients who passed away in Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani from the highly contagious illness over the past fortnight were under the age of 15.
The other two victims were aged 32 and 43, said Dr Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Department of Disease Control ( DDC ), who described the situation as as severe and “very worrisome”.
From Jan 1 to Sept 2, a full of 4, 408 persons were suspected of having contracted smallpox, with 2, 371 cases confirmed by laboratory tests. Among those infected, 371 developed asthma as a problem.
According to Dr. Thongchai, influenza can be prevented by getting the correct vaccination.
The far south has a vaccination rate of only 40 to 50 %, but between 80 % and 90 % of the national population has been. In such a low-vaccination atmosphere, one sick person can possibly spread the disease to at least 50 people.
Dr. Thongchai stated that the vaccination campaign may concentrate on kids in school and primary schools.
Officials are rushing to start immunizations in institutions before the spring break, as it will be more difficult to track students and procure the vaccine to each student at home.
” Influenza can harm people year-round, but epidemics tend to arise from July to September”, said Dr Thongchai.
” We need to treat as many people as possible. It’s all about elimination through immunization, and it’s important that we take action”.
He attributed concerns about post-vaccination side effects to the reduced vaccination rate in the far north. After receiving the treatment, some kids develop a fever, which causes parents to keep their kids from attending college. They therefore keep at home to take care of them, which can lead to a loss of money.
Local operational organizations have a responsibility to educate people about the advantages of vaccinations in order to stop outbreaks, according to Dr. Thongchai.
Dr Woraya Luang-on, chairman of the district’s General Contagious Disease Division, said the smallpox vaccine is administered in two doses: the second between nine and 12 weeks of age, and the subsequent at 18 months.
Both doses may become administered to achieve complete vaccine effectiveness, she added. The immunisation rate had reach 95 % of the people in a given area for the vaccine to provide full protection.
Measles, a youth infections caused by a virus, usually presents with signs such as illness, runny nose, sore throat, cough and swollen eyes.