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The first day of the dengue fever conference opens

Phuket Dengue: Vaccine Coming, Experts Report

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
PUBLIC testing in Thailand of a vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever was now only awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Public Health, a large international conference on the disease was told today.

The vaccine could be in widespread use within five years, with the cost of development estimated at four billion baht.

The Second International Conference on Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever 2008 opened at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort with 798 experts from all over the world in attendance.

Another 200 people are expected to join over the coming three days of the conference.

While the topic may have been sombre, the economic benefit of the conference being held on Phuket should be substantial.

Phuket will also benefit from being seen to host a large, significant conference.

Look for Phuketwan updates from the international dengue conference on Thursday and Friday and have your say below


The resorts that benefit directly most are the local Karon resorts, the Hilton, the Tavorn Palm Beach Hotel and the Woraburi Hotel.

After greetings in a formal setting this morning, the dengue experts broke up into smaller groups to discuss different aspects and issues connected with the disease, its possible eradication and its treatment.

It's 50 years since Thailand had its first case of dengue.

While the disease is at its worst in Narathiwat and Pattani now, Thailand so far this year has had 68,235 cases involving 82 deaths.

This is close to a 40 percent increase over 2007 figures.

About 4000 people will be required to test the vaccine at first, the conference was told by Professor Arunee Sabchareon, of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine.

Of the total in attendance at the opening of the conference today, 84 were from United States, 15 from Japan seven from China, 19 from Taiwan, 49 from Malaysia, 11 from the Philippines, 33 from Indonesia, 14 from Saudi Arabia and 383 from Thailand.

Phuket Set To Lead World on Dengue Fever
Phuket leads the world in one aspect of the killer disease that islanders whisper about at parties, Dengue Fever. It's time to start talking more loudly about Dengue, and to celebrate Koh Maprao, too.
Phuket Set To Lead World on Dengue Fever

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Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

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