A district official sprays fogging chemicals in a residential area in Soi Lat Phrao 69 on Lat Phrao Road in 2018 to prevent the spread of mosquitoes that cause dengue fever (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand is experiencing aconcerning increase in dengue fever cases this year, with over 19,000infections reported, marking the highest number in three years.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul on June 12 said that the dengue virus has killed at least 15 individuals across thecountry since January, and the infection rate is 4.2 times higher than last year. On average,around 900 infections and one death are recorded each week, with most denguecases found in the capital of Bangkok and five other provinces.
The public health ministry expects to see more dengue patientsduring the rainy season between June and August before the number of casesstarts to decline in September.
The ministry's Department of Disease Control(DDC) reported a total of 19,503 dengue cases as of last week in the SoutheastAsian country, with most infections occurring among children aged between 5 and14.
DDC director general Thares Krasanairawiwonghas requested anyone who suspects they may be infected should seek medicalattention and avoid taking over-the-counter treatments.
To curb the spread of this mosquito-borne disease, the agencyurges the public to keep their communities clean and help eliminate mosquitobreeding sites./.
