The Public Health Ministry has predicted dengue fever cases will jump more than 16% this year and urged the public to help authorities reduce the mosquito population in their neighbourhoods.
Permanent secretary for public health Sophon Mekthana said 583 dengue fever cases were reported nationwide from Jan 1-11 with no fatalities, according to the Disease Control Department which was monitoring the dengue outbreaks.
Most of the patients were aged 15-24 and the top five provinces with the highest number of patients per 100,000 population included Nakhon Pathom, Phuket, Pichit, Si Sa Ket and Songkhla.
The department estimated the number of cases of dengue infections to rise from 142,925 last year, 141 of which were fatal, to 166,000 this year.
Public health officials have been instructed to educate and work with members of local communities to implement measures to prevent dengue and control mosquitos before rainy season.
Dr Sophon said 228 districts in 56 provinces with problems related to environmental hygiene and waste disposal had been designated as dengue outbreak-prone areas. Authorities would eliminate mosquito breeding sites, including those in schools and temples, as a way to reduce mosquito populations and reduce infection rates.
Department of Disease Control director-general Amnuay Kajina said the agency would run the anti-dengue fever campaign year-round to try to bring down the number of patients and deaths as much as possible.