The Public Health Ministry has launched a campaign against the dengue fever outbreak as the number of patients may surpass 100,000 this year.

Public Health Minister Dr Pradit Sintavanarong said about the measures to contain the dengue fever outbreak that from July 10-17 the ministry will hold a major campaign nationwide to have more than one million volunteers eradicate mosquitoes in residential areas, houses, schools and temples while educating people about the disease.

In the past week, the country recorded 5,276 new infections with six deaths. The disease is spreading in the northern part of Thailand.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Disease Control, Dr Opas Karnkavinpong, said the dengue fever situation in the second half of this year is worrisome and the number of patients may be as high as 120,000.

The department is working to contain the outbreak and keep the number of infections below 100,000.

In July and August, the rainy season is at its peak for the outbreak. Patients with two days of flu-like symptoms including high fever are advised to seek medical treatment, he said.

So far this year, there have been 59,318 dengue fever patients and 68 fatalities. The infection rate is 92.57: 100,000 population with the death rate is 0.11: 100,000 population. (MCOT online news)

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