Hand, foot and mouth disease in Thailand under control: Thai authority

Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Saturday affirmed that hand, foot and mouth disease in the country is under control and less cases of the outbreak have been found here than in neighboring countries, Thai News Agency reported.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri, Disease Control Department's director-general Dr Porntep Siriwanarangsun, and Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health's director Siraporn Sawasdivorn on Saturday spoke on the weekly televised programme "Prime Minister Yingluck Government Meets the People" regarding the pandemic situation.

Witthaya said the prime minister assigned the Public Health Ministry to work proactively and integratedly with the Education and Interior Ministries to combat the disease, particularly at child care centers and nurseries.

Dr Pornthep said that no serious case of the disease leading to death has been found in the country, despite the fact that more patients have contracted the virus this year. He affirmed enterovirus 71 (EV-71), in the form of the hand, foot and mouth disease, has not been uncovered in a mutated form within the country.

However, patient figures in Thailand has reached almost 14,000 reported cases so far, which is relatively small compared to Singapore (20,000) and Vietnam (63,000), Dr Pornthep noted, adding that this was due to Thailand's better preventive measures, including a hotline number.

The Disease Control Department's director-general added his organisation applied international disease control laws to set up check points at border crossings nationwide to monitor the outbreak along the borders. Child care centers along the borders were ordered to temporarily close down for safety.