The Department of Disease Control (DDC) in Thailand has given an assurance that no instances of the dangerous Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been detected within the country’s borders. CCHF, pronounced worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a high-risk communicable disease, has seen its ominous foothold in regions like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia escalating at an alarming rate, racking up a mortality rate that swings between 30 to 40%. Dr Thares Krasanairawiwong, DDC’s director-general, reassured the public in a recent statement.
The chief emphasized, “So far, no case has been reported in Thailand.” This viral haemorrhagic fever, manifested by a tick-borne Nairovirus, usually infiltrates hosts found in livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep. Transmission occurs upon any sort of contact with the infected, according to the expert account of the DDC chief.
Some of the tell-tale symptoms accompanying CCHF include fever episodes, muscle pain, feelings of dizziness, severe headaches, occurrences of vomiting, abdominal distress, diarrhoea, sight issues, and visible red spots on the skin, indicative of minor internal bleeding incidents. Graver manifestations may include bleeding gums and incessant nosebleeds. Dr Thares advises those returning from overseas, particularly from afflicted regions, and suspecting potential exposure to promptly seek medical advice, offering detailed information about their travels and possible risk exposure.
Simultaneously, local dengue fever incidents show no signs of tapering off. The right-hand man of the DDC, deputy director-general Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, furnished recent data showing an alarming uptick in the numbers of mosquito-borne dengue fever cases. Accordingly, from January 1 to July 19, an astounding 41,527 dengue fever cases have been reported, with 41 unfortunate fatalities counted so far.
A stark rise in patient cases, nearly triple that witnessed during the same timeframe from the previous year, is noted, with a recorded 5,057 confirmed dengue fever instances in the last week alone. Dr Sophon cautions dengue fever symptomatic patients against recourse to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin. Their use may exacerbate the issue, leading to bleeding and heightening the risk of complications.
In a previous announcement, the DDC had issued a stern warning about a looming dengue fever outbreak. Fear looms that if the preventive measures don’t hold up, the country could see an exponential rise in count to up to 150,000 dengue fever infections by the end of the year.
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