Canim
newbie
Posts: 1

#1 Posted: 18/3/2008 - 03:08


Been back in Canada for 10 days now after two months in Thailand. Last place we were in was Pattaya. My wife became ill after two days home and was diagnosed with Dengue (classic) yesterday in Emergency.
WEAR DEET!! Believe her, this is not a fun virus.

goo_stewart
tout
Posts: 65

#2 Posted: 18/3/2008 - 05:46


Good advice, people do not know the dangers of dengue which is a risk in every town and city in Thailand/Cambodia. Cover up and DEET at the 2 things you should do, dengue is spread in the day time hours.

khunwilko
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 142

#3 Posted: 18/3/2008 - 10:16


As you are now no doubt aware there is no vaccine or treatment for dengue....so prevention is the only course. wear DEET and COVER UP. Many people insist on going round at dusk and Dawn (Dengue time) with next to nothing on....all you have to do is wear light color long-sleeved/legged apparel and you reduce the risk a whole lot.

I have several friends in Pattaya - some tourists, some residents - who have had dengue...it can be just a mild attack or as one guy said the worse than he ever dreamed any illness could be. It can even be fatal.

Just because you are in a town don't think you are "safe" - The Dengue bearing mosquito thrives in URBAN areas - it likes small still puddles to breed e.g. old tires flowerpots etc.

Height of risk is after rain or wet season.

Rufus
tout
Posts: 62

#4 Posted: 25/5/2008 - 18:44


There have been a couple of cases i know of here in Vientiane in the last couple of weeks.

khunwilko
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 142

#5 Posted: 25/5/2008 - 21:45


I think it is fair to say that Dengue is endemic in Thailand but especially in urban areas.

SBE
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 129

#6 Posted: 25/5/2008 - 22:08


Agree, it's more an urban disease (unlike malaria). There are many cases in Bangkok every year. This is not to say that you can't catch it elsewhere too of course.

khunwilko
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 142

#7 Posted: 26/5/2008 - 09:10


The problem with assessing the amount of dengue about is that the symptoms can range from mild to very very serious. So mild cases can go unnoticed and therefore undiagnosed and unreported.
Also it seems quite possible that the authorities don't like to over emphasise the extent of dengue in Thailand as it is feared it may affect tourist numbers.

Marney_47
longtail driver
Posts: 8

#8 Posted: 29/5/2008 - 08:53


In that case then, does anyone know where to buy a good mosquito net in Bangkok before i head off on my trip to Laos and Cambodia???

khunwilko
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 142

#9 Posted: 29/5/2008 - 10:48


Most big stores.....Robinsons, Big C, Tesco-lotus stock mozzie nets around 250 to 360 baht. Many hotels have them.
You are mainly at risk DAWN and DUSK when out and about....so COVER up!

SBE
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 129

#10 Posted: 23/6/2008 - 14:58


Apparently there is a fairly serious Dengue epidemic in Thailand at the moment...there have been over 14,000 confirmed cases since the beginning of 2008, most diagnosed since the beginning of the rainy season in April. That's a 72% increase compared to last year. Numbers will no doubt rise as the rainy season progresses but the authorities have launched a major public awareness campaign in an attempt to reduce the number of potential mosquito breeding grounds etc.

More info here.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78586