PHUKET: The senior health official on Phuket, Dr Sak Tenchaikul, Director of the Phuket Provincial Health Office, said today there was no need for undue alarm or concern about dengue fever on Phuket.
A Phuket English-language tabloid newspaper this week claims in a cover story headed ''DENGUE ALERT! Phuket dengue fever cases on the rise - Patong at major risk'' that there have been eight deaths among 11,000 cases of dengue on Phuket so far this year.
Dr Sak said today that - as Phuketwan reported in May - the reality is there has been one death from dengue and 153 cases on Phuket.
The eight deaths and 11,000 cases of dengue are for the whole of Thailand. The tabloid newspaper fails to mention in its report that the figures it quotes are for the whole of Thailand.
In an editorial, the newspaper condemns the ''typical government response to tackling the potentially fatal virus - that is to say, next to nothing.''
Phuket has the reputation for leading the fight against dengue in Thailand, with a program to combat dengue on Koh Maprao, off the east coast of Phuket, winning international attention from health experts.
Authorites on Phuket are extremely concerned about dengue and do all they can to keep numbers under control, Dr Sak said today.
Dengue cases tend to peak each year in June on Phuket. Local authorities spray frequently and volunteers tour communities, offering advice on how to prevent outbreaks.
Phuket's tabloid English-language newspapers appear to have problems providing an accurate coverage of dengue fever on Phuket.
The other English-language tabloid carried an article on its front page in August 2010, saying: ''Seven people died from dengue fever in Phuket in the first week of this month.''
Only in the print edition the next week did they bother to correct the alarming falsehood.
The Deputy Director of Phuket's Public Health Department, Dr Wiwat Keetamanoch, told us at the time - when Phuketwan published a truthful report immediately - ''If we had three deaths on Phuket, it would be classed as a catastrophe. I would be moved to another province.''
The same remains true today . . . except Phuket now has two tabloids.
A Phuket English-language tabloid newspaper this week claims in a cover story headed ''DENGUE ALERT! Phuket dengue fever cases on the rise - Patong at major risk'' that there have been eight deaths among 11,000 cases of dengue on Phuket so far this year.
Dr Sak said today that - as Phuketwan reported in May - the reality is there has been one death from dengue and 153 cases on Phuket.
The eight deaths and 11,000 cases of dengue are for the whole of Thailand. The tabloid newspaper fails to mention in its report that the figures it quotes are for the whole of Thailand.
In an editorial, the newspaper condemns the ''typical government response to tackling the potentially fatal virus - that is to say, next to nothing.''
Phuket has the reputation for leading the fight against dengue in Thailand, with a program to combat dengue on Koh Maprao, off the east coast of Phuket, winning international attention from health experts.
Authorites on Phuket are extremely concerned about dengue and do all they can to keep numbers under control, Dr Sak said today.
Dengue cases tend to peak each year in June on Phuket. Local authorities spray frequently and volunteers tour communities, offering advice on how to prevent outbreaks.
Phuket's tabloid English-language newspapers appear to have problems providing an accurate coverage of dengue fever on Phuket.
The other English-language tabloid carried an article on its front page in August 2010, saying: ''Seven people died from dengue fever in Phuket in the first week of this month.''
Only in the print edition the next week did they bother to correct the alarming falsehood.
The Deputy Director of Phuket's Public Health Department, Dr Wiwat Keetamanoch, told us at the time - when Phuketwan published a truthful report immediately - ''If we had three deaths on Phuket, it would be classed as a catastrophe. I would be moved to another province.''
The same remains true today . . . except Phuket now has two tabloids.
According to the authorities theres never cause for alarm over anything on phuket and always a isolated instance.
Posted by traveller on June 9, 2012 14:21
Editor Comment:
There you go, traveller, generalising by using the phrase''the authorities'' to cover all officials in all situations. What a ridiculous thing to say. What an untruthful thing to say. Learn to deal with individual events and make your brain work a bit harder. Get real, please.