One of the regulars I see at Dongtan beach has just been hospitalized with a serious case of Dengue Fever. I know of at least five people who have contracted dengue in the last few years. For reasons I not understand, Rayong and Chonburi always seem to be high on the list of provinces where this dangerous mosquito-borne disease is always lurking as a threat, although the deep south which gets lots of rain has its share of cases.

This article was in today paper:

"This year's long hot summer has already brought much discontent and suffering. Now comes a warning from public health offices in the North and Northeast that an old scourge has returned to inflict its misery.

The enemy is the mosquito and the disease is dengue. Mass spraying is already taking place in Nakhon Ratchasima, which has 486 people diagnosed with mosquito-borne dengue fever, and in Buri Ram, which has 360. Most victims are youngsters and at least two have died. Last month the vector-borne virus struck in the South and infected 123 people in Phuket, prompting warnings of a virulent strain worsened by the extremely hot and humid weather."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion...end-this-plague

Are there any vaccines against dengue?

No vaccine and no real cure, other than bed rest and steroids in cases where major damage may have been done before detection.

"The Public Health Ministry reported Tuesday that dengue fever has infected 17,587 people and killed 20 patients around the country in the past five months.

The Ministry's permanent secretary Dr Paiji Warachit said the number of dengue fever patients this year has increased by 58 per cent when compared with the same period last year. Most dengue victims were aged between 10 to 24 years.

The Ministry reported the Central region was the hardest hit with 7,945 cases, followed by 4,264 in the South, 3,753 in the Northeast, and 1,625 in the North. . .

Patients whose body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius for several days and have red spots on their skin are advised to take only paracetamol to reduce the fever before seeking medical advice."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...e-30131130.html

Two of our friends were hospitalised recently for dengue here in Chiang Mai. Thankfully they made full recovery. I don't have the figures but they told me the rate of infection in the north is high too. Apparently there's also a long line to see Chiang Mai's pulmonoligists as many people are suffering from respiratory disorders due to smog inhalation.

It's important to avoid aspirin in suspected cases of hemorrhagic Dengue because aspirin can make bleeding worse.

Here's the latest update:

"Dengue has reached a five-year high in Thailand, with 41,136 cases and 38 deaths to 20 July, against 22,969 infections and 19 deaths in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Public Health."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/I...e566c38a12c.htm