The Thai Red Cross Society is calling for blood donations as the number of haemorrhagic dengue fever cases rises.
A Thai Red Cross Society poster urges the public to donate blood to help dengue fever patients.
As of Nov 17, the number of dengue patients this year stood at 111,826, a 207.2% increase from 2014's total, said the Thai Red Cross Society in its statement, citing a report by the Disease Control Department under the Public Health Ministry.
Some patients suffered severe internal bleeding, shock and a low platelet counts. They were in dire need of blood and platelets. The rising number of patients affected blood bank supplies as some patients needed more than 10 units of blood.
The outbreak of the mosquito-borne viral infection has affected stock levels at the National Blood Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society, said in the statement.
The blood centre could supply only 30% and 70% of blood and platelets, respectively, to hospitals, the society said.
In Bangkok, donations can be made at the National Blood Centre on Henri Dunant Road every day from 8am to 4.30pm. In the provinces, people can donate blood at branches of the blood centre in provincial public hospitals.
For more information, call 02-256 4300.