2024-04-06 16:30:00
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Sharp increase in dengue fever cases in Thailand. Bangkok relies on pesticides. The new vaccination is too expensive for many people.
In addition to Brazil, numerous other tropical and subtropical countries are already struggling with the increase in dengue fever. The mosquito-borne virus has already led to around 20,000 reports of illness in Thailand this year, twice as many as in the same period last year. The disease can cause severe fever and, in the worst case, be fatal.
Of the tropical infectious diseases, dengue fever is the most widespread in Thailand and is a major problem, explains Nawapong Patpan, head of the infection control department at the Ratchaphipat Hospital in the capital Bangkok: “During dengue outbreaks, these patients occupy one in five of our internal beds Medicine.” There is a lack of beds anyway, which also has a negative impact on other patients.
A new vaccine works well, but is expensive
A vaccine against dengue has been around for several years, but it is not particularly effective, says Nawapong. On the other hand, the “Qdenga” vaccination from Japan, which has been approved since last year and provides around 80 percent protection against infection and up to 90 percent protection against hospitalization, raises great hope. It is therefore an important key to reducing the number of hospitalizations.
But the vaccination is expensive by Thai standards: it costs the equivalent of around 80 francs in the Ratchaphipat Hospital. “Many people here can’t or don’t want to afford it,” said the doctor.
With pesticides and volunteers against the breeding grounds
Stagnant water is the ideal breeding place for the mosquito because that is where it lays its eggs. On the outskirts of Bangkok, the authorities rely primarily on pesticides in order to eradicate the dangerous sources of disease in a timely manner. Men in blue overalls, gas masks and protective goggles are using so-called thermal foggers. They spray the pesticides liberally along house walls and into street manholes. Ponds and pools are also covered in fog.
With united forces against the mosquitoes in Bangkok
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Legend: The disease control authority in Bangkok has declared war on mosquitoes and is sending its officials into the furthest corners. Imago/IMAGO/NurPhoto
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Legend: Men in overalls and gas masks spray pesticides against mosquito larvae in a suburb of Bangkok. SRF/Martin Aldrovandi
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Caption: A volunteer on her weekly educational tour in Bangkok. SRF/Martin Aldrovandi
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Legend: Even the smallest amounts of water are enough for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. SRF/Martin Aldrovandi
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Legend: The new vaccine from Japan protects very well against dengue fever, but is very expensive by Thai standards at the equivalent of 80 francs. SRF/Martin Aldrovandi
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Legend: Dengue fever is a viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, primarily yellow fever mosquitoes of the species Aedes aegypti. Imago/Pond5 Images
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Legend: Dengue fever is also transmitted by infected Asian tiger mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus. Imago/Viewpoint/H. Schmidbauer
But volunteers are also out and about in the small community on the outskirts of the city. Once a week they go from house to house in the narrow streets to educate the population about the dangers of standing water in all kinds of containers and to tell them that the water on the small altar at the entrance to the house also needs to be changed weekly.
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