Zika virus and Thailand

Post by **GT93** » May 29, 2016, 6:57 am

I haven't read anything about the Zika virus and Thailand. Perhaps I have missed something. Is it in Thailand yet? Is it likely to be a big problem? The Thai climate suggests yes. This one is a big worry.

Post by **FrazeeDK** » May 29, 2016, 7:54 am

early news on Channel 8 this morning covered a story of someone having the Zika Virus in Ampohoe SangKhom, Udon Province. The story stated the person had recently come back from Taiwan. A news clip showed Zika being endemic to many areas of South America along with some Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea. The story then interviewed some health officials and showed the usual rotating video clips of government workers fogging, dropping lavacides and emptying containers and tires with standing water.. Since according to the news someone with the Zika virus can be bitten by a mosquito and then the mosquito transmit the virus to other humans I suppose a sick person could become a primary vector for the disease. Other than pregnant women, there doesn't seem to be much of a health issue with minor flu type symptoms lingering over a two week period being the norm.. But for a pregnant woman it can result in birth defects (microcephaly being the most severe).

Post by **FrazeeDK** » May 29, 2016, 9:22 am

link to News Article on Zika in Udon Province http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165199

Post by **wazza** » May 29, 2016, 4:08 pm

Rio 2016, will be a serious challenge for the local authorities

WHO saying the games shouldn't be cancelled or postponed , but over 100 eminent scientists saying they should.

Imagine Oct 2016 will see reporting from countries that were at the games .....

Post by **GT93** » May 30, 2016, 12:42 am

I have read that some athletes are minimizing their time in Rio.

It's a very frightening virus if you have Thai family going to have babies in say the next decade or so. As it looks like Zika may soon go through parts of the US, at least the might of the western pharmaceutical - medical industries will be quickly applied to this problem. I understand not much is known about the virus and that it may cause other brain problems as well.

Post by **mathusalah80** » May 30, 2016, 1:15 pm

wazza wrote:Rio 2016, will be a serious challenge for the local authorities

WHO saying the games shouldn't be cancelled or postponed , but over 100 eminent scientists saying they should.

Imagine Oct 2016 will see reporting from countries that were at the games .....

Wazza, I am sure many of us uninformed, but interested, 'Udon old timers, aware of your professional background , and the fact that you have almost certainly been following the situation closely, would like to learn your PERSONAL views upon how matters are likely to develop, short & long term; the extent of the danger to Athletes, and others attending the Games, and whether you think either the venue should be changed, (obviously to late now to arrange), or the Games cancelled. Thanks.
In this sad sad real world, I am certain, personally, consideration of the health of 'the People' will ultimately rank a very distance second to that of financial considerations, ensuring the Games will go ahead at no matter what human cost.

Post by **wazza** » May 31, 2016, 1:02 pm

M80

my interest was in Pre Hospital Care / Retrieval Emergency Medicine.

I was working in Honduras ( Roatan Island - Caribbean ) when the Zika Thing kicked off there, 1 small village initially on the mainland.

The company I was consulting with at the time, stopped females of child bearing age to return to the project , as their risk assessments suggested possible exposure.

I also kicked off an new project in Myanmar and was pleased with this as now some Countries are screening transiting passengers and this could be an issue with anyone travelling home to Thailand from the Caribbean.

Its a disease that has realistically just appeared with large reporting ???, Brasil etc, and I wonder if its been underreported before, with local medical references or reporting just ignored. These countries are developing countries, or 3rd world countries, so their primary care standards would be challenging I imagine.

My view on Rio Games and Zika would be quiet simple, The Games Authority cant even get the basic water / sewerage issues resolved just for the water events , rowing, yachting etc, so their rolled out comments on keeping Zika exposures down, but fogging, Personal awareness / DEET, Clothing, I would take with a grain of salt to be honest.

Zika is spread by the same mozzie that spreads Dengue, so some exciting times for some Entomologists, they have just recently advised they have got a trial vaccine for Dengue, BUT its uptake is only 30% in the trials and costs are huge, so many of the Tropical Countries that have Dengue wont be able to afford it once developed anyway, as they don't even get the basic public health vaccinations done well.

Tourists / Business Travel could benefit in the long run perhaps ??

Perhaps the Aussie team should take Aeroguard and Brufren in their travel kits , and not antibacterial condoms to Rio LOL

Post by **maaka** » June 1, 2016, 3:09 pm

I am in Ground Zero re Sangkhom District..not told it was Zika just dengue...ghostbuster smoke guns all over the place, squirted inside the house afew times, people in hospital...first it was scorpions, then cobra's and dengue /zika//I love this place...writing from sangkhom

Post by **mathusalah80** » June 1, 2016, 3:49 pm

Thanks for your informed response Wazza, much appreciated.
Incidentally, presumably, you are not about to accept any financially tempting offers to work in Rio!

Post by **GT93** » June 3, 2016, 8:57 am

The farmers should be watching their daughters like a hawk in your neighbourhood maaka. Particularly given the Thai tradition of grandparents being very involved with raising their grandchildren.

Post by **waanjai** » June 3, 2016, 11:12 pm

They do what they always do in such situations:

Still running around in shorts

Take it seriously

Post by **Khun Paul** » June 4, 2016, 5:27 am

Yhe part about emptying old tyres and other places where water gathers is very interesting, the Aedes Aegypti Mossie has also evolved into NOT making a noise as it nears its prey unlike the normal common Mossie and also prefers inside rather than outside as its habitat as well as its eggs can remain in the dust as it were until watered up to almost a year.
So all of you with pot saucers make sure you wash them at least three times a year, ( inside or outside ) making sure in the compound around the house there is no STANDING water.
These ideals are fine , but on many estates your house and garden may be clean unfortunately the locals have different ideas.

Post by **wazza** » June 10, 2016, 9:13 am

Here is the latest media update RE Zika and Rio from OZ

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-10/z ... gh/7495974

Post by **maaka** » June 10, 2016, 3:29 pm

we are about 5km /7km from ground zero, but we get no information...the missus said its not serious as someone read it in a book...oyiiiiiiii...I said then why are they spraying our house twice a week. dont know...did they do that last year...no. only when someone get sick....she still splashes around outside at dusk washing and bathing, cant get thru to them..but have bought mossie nets, roll on goo, and fly spray, use up a can every 3 days...its a battle...the buggers are flying around during the day....

can someone tell me if this zika thing lasts in the body forever, or only the 7 days?

yes GT, we worry about our boy and ifg this thing should go on forever..

Post by **GT93** » June 26, 2016, 8:24 am

"The World Health Organisation expects the Zika virus, which is spreading through the Americas, to affect between 3 million and 4 million people, a disease expert says.

The WHO's director-general said the spread of the mosquito-borne disease had gone from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-29/z ... ho/7122890

This suggests big problems lie ahead for Thailand too.

Post by **rick** » June 26, 2016, 9:36 pm

Zika virus is related to the Dengue fever virus, but is milder. There is very little risk of death, it is only this recent association of Microcephaly and unborn children that is an issue. So it is an issue for pregnant women, but not really for anyone else.

Post by **GT93** » June 27, 2016, 2:11 pm

Pregnant women have families who would also be very affected by a new born with Microcephaly. If a family member is pregnant and the Zika virus is in her neighbourhood, it would be a very anxious time. Time perhaps to move somewhere safer but that has other costs if there's less family support around at another location.

Post by **wazza** » June 27, 2016, 3:45 pm

rick wrote:Zika virus is related to the Dengue fever virus, but is milder. There is very little risk of death, it is only this recent association of Microcephaly and unborn children that is an issue. So it is an issue for pregnant women, but not really for anyone else.

The fact that the disease is carried by males in their sperm for up to 6 months isn't an issue ?

The clinical care of the diseased child after birth , isn't an issue ?

That's a huge public heath transmission issue, Queensland already recorded a case up in the far North where other mosquito diseases are present ( Ross River virus etc ) potential to cross over to other disease profiles as well.

Dengue / Zika is found in 3rd world and developing countries already, and causing drains on the public heath sector....

Post by **rick** » June 27, 2016, 5:45 pm

It seems that Zika virus may not be the cause of microcephaly - 12,000 pregnant women who contracted zika in Columbia had no cases of microcephaly at birth. Why this is happening in Brazil is a puzzle. It has been suggested that the pesticide being used to kill mosquito larvae in drinking water is responsible ......

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 150813.htm

Post by **wazza** » July 11, 2016, 2:33 pm

Latest update and as we can see on the figures provided. Zika is increasing.

Funny they dont report any birth complications.

Well last time I looked the average gestation was 40 weeks and Zika hasnt been here that long.

Also getting local village clinics to make the differential diagnosis will be huge. Will local GPs request more ultrasounds during gestation for " Dengue " exposed females ?

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... ose-to-100