20,000 chikungunya cases in South

More than 20,000 people have been treated in the southern provinces this year for chikungunya disease, but the outbreak is not at epidemic level, health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirot said on Tuesday.

The disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes infected with the virus, was not fatal, but there was also no vaccine against it, he said.

People should ensure there were no breeding grounds for mosquitoes around their homes, such as stagnant water, wear clothes that cover their arms and legs and use mosquito nets and repellents.

 Dr Prat said infected people  should not to travel to other provinces until they were fully recovered to prevent it spreading.

He said  2,083 people were recorded as infected with chikungunya in Yala province between Jan 1 and May 22. Most were 45 to 54 years old, and 758 of those were rubber farmers.

In April, 725 chikungunya cases were reported in Yala.