I have heard from a friend who is a regular traveller to Thailand that there is some evidence of the malaria mosquito in Bangkok and that the authorities are trying to cover it up so that it does not affect turism.
Can anyone confirm this and are the authorities doing anything about the erradication of these malaria type mosquitoes. Given that Malaria is now one of the biggest killers in the world I would like to know what is true or not.
Thanks, Krisna

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about Malaria in Bkk, Dengue Fever is a much bigger risk. So you should always take sensible precautions and follow medical/tourist advice.

I agree with Keith. I was just reading a web site about Koh Chang, which used to be notorious as a place to catch malaria. Nobody this guy has met (and he lives there) can remember anyone getting malaria in Koh Chang, while dengue is scarily common.

The great strength of conspiracy theories is that the less evidence there is, the more people believe them! Therefore, if there are no records of malaria in Bangkok it must "prove" that there is a cover up.

I should also add that this guy cites Thai Red Cross advice that visitors should NOT use anti malarial drugs. the risk is low, but the drugs can hide symptoms making treatment more difficult. Before now I would have dismissed this - but i have a feeling it might be a good idea, particularly in low risk areas.

Ian

Suggest you read the following reports from AFP and TNA


BANGKOK: -- A top Thai health official Friday warned of a surge in dengue fever after the mosquito-borne disease killed six people and infected nearly 6,000 this year.

"It is likely that dengue fever will be more severe this year than last year," Thawat Suntrajarn, director-general of the disease control department at the public health ministry, told Agence France-Presse.

The disease has already killed six and sickened more than 5,800 since the beginning of this year, Thawat said, warning that the number of new infections could surge during Thailand's rainy seasons from June to August.

Thailand has suffered 1,000 more cases than during the same period of last year, he said.

In 2007, dengue fever killed 91 people and infected more than 63,000 in Thailand, according to official data.

Dengue is usually associated with poorer tropical countries. The disease leads to a sudden onset of fever with severe headaches, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.

--AFP 2008-03-14

Public campaign aims to eradicate striped mosquitoes

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Public Health Ministry will kick off a campaign to kill striped mosquitoes nationwide in an attempt to fight the alarming increase of dengue fever patients, according to senior ministry officials.

Public health minister Chaiya Sasomsup said this year’s dengue fever outbreak in Thailand was quite worrying.

From January 1 to March 8, a total of 5,837 dengue fever patients were recorded nationwide, seven of whom died from the disease. Compared to the same period of 2007, the number of patients this year was 77 per cent higher.

The ministry has decided therefore to launch a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness as well as to eradicate striped mosquitoes, which carry dengue fever.

Between March 20 and 27, a total of 800,000 health volunteers will cooperate with local administration officials in conducting a door-to-door campaign to villages to promote the eradication of the mosquitos and their habitats.

Director-general of Thailand's Disease Control Department Dr. Thawat Suntrajarn said the density of the disease had shifted from the southern region to the central region. During the first ten weeks of this year, a total of 3,669 patients were found in the central region, compared with 1,105 in the southern region.

In previous years, more patients were recorded in the southern region.

--TNA 2008-03-16

As one of gf's children spent weeks in a coma induced by dengue haemmorhagic fever and was near death,I am always aware of the risks.

quote:

Thailand's Public Health Ministry will kick off a campaign to kill striped mosquitoes nationwide in an attempt to fight the alarming increase of dengue fever patients, according to senior ministry officials.

Oh dear, I never checked to see whether the mossies I killed were striped or not.

I must look more closely next time.

Ian

Beware this

and this. Hard to miss really...

quote:

Beware this

Bloody hell, its HUGE!!!!

Yes I've also heard the story about them denying that malaria carrying mozzies live in the BKK area.

Apparently there's a signpost at the Saraburi Mozzie Immigration Office that informs all passing mozzies that they cannot travel any further if they are carrying malaria in their luggage.

My wife caught Dengue fever this January in Thailand. She only travelled between Phitsanulok in the north and south as far as Pattaya. No one else who was with her on the trip (about 14 adults and kids) was affected.
She's OK now but was pretty rough for a couple of weeks and had to delay her return. Luckily she went down with it the day before she was due to fly, it could have been a pretty miserable journey home!

Slightly off topic, but what do you lot use out there to deter the horrible little beggars.
I get bitten to death, mainly on my legs, and thats the only thing that iam not looking forward to in my upcoming holiday. The stuff you buy over Uk ie 'Jungle Formula' is utter cr@p, i think it actually attracts them
Also any recommendations for something to stop me ripping my skin off scratching those inevitable bites (cut my nails is not the answer iam looking for)

Jungle Formula should wrok, as it contains Deet. Eating lots of Thai food is reputed to deter the ******s - I think it might be true as I get bitten much less when I visit than when I first lived there.

As for the itching, nothing works better than yah mong (the Thai version of tiger balm). Yah mong is also great for headaches, pains, colds, and probably every other known disease. But you should also take anti histamine if you get an allergice reaction.

At night I tended to use one of those electric plug things, after, of course, personally killing every mozzy in sight.

Ian

A friend of mine recently contracted malaria from samut prakan which is part of Bangkok. Having just returned from LOS I was a bit concerned myself; I would recommend any one to use citronella oil as a repellent, and savlon cream to stop itching .

quote:

As for the itching, nothing works better than yah mong (the Thai version of tiger balm). Yah mong is also great for headaches, pains, colds, and probably every other known disease. But you should also take anti histamine if you get an allergice reaction.

Is that the green gel that comes in a small round tin ? if so I agree the stuff works wonders.

quote:

Originally posted by N Barton:
Also any recommendations for something to stop me ripping my skin off scratching those inevitable bites (cut my nails is not the answer iam looking for)

I use something called "boon" a white chalky paste. You just dab it on the bite and let it dry. Works great.Thais use it mainly for babies that have mozzy bites.Only costs one Baht for a small plastic wrap of the stuff.Don't know where you get it from though the wife nips off on a motor bike and gets it for me when we're in the village.

I use baby oil (sparingly) while in the shower, this tip was passed on to me by an indian friend of mine who travels home to india regulary. It leaves a film of oil on the skin which the mossies hate.
keep away from using sweet smelling aftershaves, lemon based is better.
if anything you'll smell great and be as soft as a baby even if it doesnt work

quote:

Jungle Formula should wrok, as it contains Deet. Eating lots of Thai food is reputed to deter

Yes Deet is the key but apparantly eating marmite also works (probably can't get it in LOS though)
colin 244

N Barton - I have exactly the same problem and have been recommended various repellents including Jungle Formula. Nothing works for me at all but I have learned to tale precautions that do improve things such as:

When eating at outside/open restaurants, don't choose tables around the edges or neat greenery.

Wearing long sleeved shirts after dark and full length trousers.

Not using aftershave.

I don't know how much time you've spent in Thailand but for some strange reason, I find that I get bitten less these days and the itching now lasts days rather than weeks.

So, in summary, you need lots of spicy food, a wrap of white powder delivered by a lady on a motorbike, and then to be coated in baby oil. Sounds like a pretty normal day in Thailand to me.

Ian

Cheers for replies.
Have ordered some stuff off the net that is 100% DEET, if it doesnt kill the mossies it might kill the environment.
Must admit the last time i was in LOS it wasnt so bad, i used some stuff i bought out there, you could get it with orange, green or pink lid, also it was feb and suprisingly cold and wet, dont know if that was the reason. I would imaging april is going to be pretty bad as iam spending most of the month in the village, and i still have pretty fresh memories of the golf ball size lumps on my legs and the week in hospital with suspected malaria after a previous visit.

If things get really bad you could always get one of these

very tempting !!
could be the first male to walk around Pattaya without hearing 'hello, sexy man !!'
but then again.......

Hope you manage to avoid the bites.

The higher the concentration of DEET,the quicker it evaporates,which is exacerbated by sweating in hot humid conditions.

I learned the hard way too.

I use a citronella based product which I get over there. It seems to work,although,like Flip I suspect I've become more tolerant of the bites. I still use the mosquito coils outdoors though-normally stuck in an empty beer bottle under the table where I'm sitting.

Hi Roly
Does that mean i would be better off with a lower, say 50%, DEET content, or just spray more often !!!

Just got b0ll0cked off Par for buying some of those coils off ebay, i thought £2.50 plus p&p for 10 was a bargain, apparently not !!