Because of cholera outbreak in Thai-Myanmar border town of Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy District, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered to intensify surveillance along the Thai-Myanmar border at a defense council meeting held on December 23, according to a report in Bangkok Post.
After the meeting the Ministry of Defense, military, and Ministry of Public Health are collaborating to take strict measures at Thai-Myanmar border. Currently, the authorities of Tak province are giving the people awareness of danger of cholera, distributing gloves and masks and instructed public personnel in the border area to wear masks. The surveillance will last at least one month.
Two people died and 300 people were infected cholera in Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy District near Tak province of Thai-Myanmar border. In Tak province,Thailand, two susceptible hosts were discovered and they were transferred to Mae Sot Hospital and Mae Ramat Hospital and given treatment, according to a report in Bangkok Post referring to Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand.
As New Year festivals are prepared to celebrate, preventive measures are taken including opening of medical centers to monitor people who have symptoms of cholera and inspection of food quality, the report said.
