AEC could bring infectious diseases, warns expert

Thailand will be at risk from breakouts of several infectious diseases, particularly diphtheria, when it enters the Asean Economic Community (AEC), an expert in disease control warned Thursday.

When it launches in 2015, the AEC will allow free flow of labour across all Asean countries including Thailand.

Renowned virologist Dr Prasert Thongcharoen said Thursday that diptheria had disappeared from Thailand for nearly 20 years, but breakouts had been detected recently in many Thai provinces because of high numbers of people travelling to and from neighbouring countries.

The Nation