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Published on January 19, 2008

The World Health Organisation reported yesterday that six people had been infected and five had died, said the director-general of the Disease Control Department, Dr Thawat Suntrajar. "People travelling to Brazil are advised to be vaccinated at least 10 days before going to any high-risk area." 

Yellow fever is a contagious disease and infection can be passed on from the bite of the aedes mosquito.

Symptoms are characterised by a sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, generalised muscle pain, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

Common haemorrhagic symptoms include nasal bleeding, bleeding gums, black vomit, and black stools.

Jaundice is moderate early on, but intensifies later. Most patients die from hepatic and renal failure. There is no specific treatment.

Thawat said he had ordered all 60 international communicable disease-control offices along borders and ports to check passengers arriving from infected areas. Anyone without a valid vaccination certificate against yellow fever will be kept under surveillance for six days. If the situation in high-risk areas, including Brazil, worsens, the health ministry will send officials to monitor the situation and check all passengers who are travelling to Thailand.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation