Epidemiology Division warns of ‘whooping cough’ outbreak in 3 southern border provinces | The Bangkok Insight

Epidemiology Division Informing the Office of Disease Prevention and Control nationwide to be wary of the “whooping cough” outbreak in three southern border provinces. More than 100 confirmed cases, most found in Pattani-Narathiwat.

Dr. Chakkrath Pittayawonganon, Director Epidemiology Division Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, revealed that the Epidemiology Division Analyzed the situation to predict diseases that will spread during December. To notify the Office of Disease Prevention and Control (DPO) in each province, which will issue announcements to inform of 2 diseases:

1. Whooping cough, a disease that can be prevented by vaccination against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or DPT, which is one of the basic vaccines for young children. They will receive the first 3 vaccinations at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.

Currently, a lot of information has been found regarding the outbreak of whooping cough in three southern provinces, especially Pattani Province and Narathiwat Province. There are more than 100 confirmed cases, while in other regions only 1-2 cases were found, and they were among those who had not received the vaccine before.

Whooping cough is a disease caused by bacteria. Preventable with vaccines In the case of children who have not been vaccinated When infected, you will start to have a fever. Have respiratory symptoms Some people have body aches.

The obvious symptoms are enlarged lymph nodes In the throat area, the vocal cords are stuck together, causing a lot of coughing. But the sound that comes out will be more like snoring, dry coughing, wheezing or rumbling. This can happen all the time, not just when sleeping. The infection then travels down to the lungs.

Currently, the southern region has a high number of infections among adults. Including outbreaks in children. It has been reported that one 18-day-old child has died from whooping cough infection, and another case is still being confirmed.

In the case of a child who dies Normally, you must receive the vaccine within 2 months, but 18 days after birth, the infection caused severe symptoms and death. From the investigation, it was found that the child’s mother was Never received the pertussis vaccine before causing no immunity to disease When the child returns to the home where the infected adult lives. It brings germs to children.

for whooping cough infection It’s like a general respiratory disease. Like COVID-19 and the flu, the initial symptoms are mild, such as sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever, and the infection can spread to the lungs.

As for the outbreak, when someone coughs, it is highly contagious to others. Like COVID-19 The chance of spreading the disease is 1 to 4 people, the common cold is 1 to 2 people, but whooping cough is 1 to 7-8 people.

However, whooping cough should no longer be found among patients in Thailand. Because in the past there has been a vaccination to protect against it, therefore finding only 1 person sick is considered to have entered an outbreak. But now more than 100 people have been found sick, with many still not getting tested for the virus. And most of them don’t go see a doctor in the hospital either.

This is the main cause of the outbreak in the southern region. Because vaccination against disease is not yet accepted. resulting in a very low injection rate Because vaccination must be voluntary. This makes vaccine coverage in some areas less than 30%, while providing good disease protection. People in the area should receive at least 80-90% vaccination coverage.

Whooping Cough Prevention This can be done by wearing a mask like COVID-19. or influenza But the most important thing is vaccination, but in the case of infection, treatment must be done according to the symptoms. which is a disease that can be treated But the important thing is Going to the doctor in time Diagnose quickly Prevent infection in the lungs

Information from: hfocus

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