Thailand is a beautiful country that attracts thousands of visitors every year to its superb beaches, cosmopolitan cities and beautiful national parks. However like anywhere in the world there are certain health issues that visitors to Thailand need to be aware of.
Many of these health risks are obvious to the seasoned traveller but equally many are not and are probably outside of the normal range of hazards a tourist to Thailand might expect to encounter on their travels.
The Bureau of Epidemiology has recently issued a report highlighting what it considers to be the top 12 threats to public health in Thailand during 2011.
Health Hazards Thailand 2011
The table on the left(compiled by Bangkok Post) lists these threats and makes pretty chilling reading with projected cases of 12.5 million and casualties(read deaths) of 78,000.
Now the table does contain some risks that would be unlikely to affect visitors to Thailand such as chemical accidents, coronary heart disease and diabetes(unless they already had these conditions) and long term health issues caused by the smoke/haze in Northern Thailand during the burning season.
However the remaining nine top health issues can and do affect tourists.
Clearly based on the data the biggest threat posed in Thailand to visitor health is HIV/AIDS with 10,000 new cases and 28,000 deaths projected for 2011. This remains a real issue in Thailand particularly within the more seedy attractions in some major holiday centres. However it is not confined to these areas nor is the disease confined to the female bar worker population.
Dr Pasakorn(Bureau of Epidemiology) said the number of Aids deaths in the country would peak for another seven to 10 years, before declining, as measures intended to arrest the spread of Aids start to take effect.
The bureau believes 10,100 new cases of HIV/Aids will be reported this year, and an estimated 205,350 HIV-positive people will need access to medicines.
Perhaps more worrying, given that the average tourist is unlikely to be exposed to HIV infection, but is likely to use local transport while in Thailand, are the projected road accident injuries and deaths, an underestimation in my opinion. Proof, if proof were really needed, that Thailand’s roads remain extremely dangerous places for tourists, expats and Thais alike.
Mosquitoes pose a threat to travellers health in Thailand and Malaria is endemic. However given that limited protection can be gained from malarial prophylactics a far more worrying mosquito borne disease is Dengue Fever for which there is no treatment or prophylactic drug.
Outbreaks of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever will probably increase nationwide this year, with 70,000-90,000 cases forecast particularly in cities and municipal areas in the central and southern regions.
Travellers should also note the incidents of Leptospirosis(Weil’s disease) which is spread by rats and Rabies which in Thailand is usually vectored through the numerous stray dogs that are found throughout the country.
Dr Pasakorn said 300,000-400,000 people are bitten by dogs every year, resulting in 15 to 20 deaths from rabies.
A lesser know killer, Liver Fluke, which can lead to liver cancer, claims thousands of lives each year in Thailand and is contracted through eating raw or undercooked fish, particularly in the NE of Thailand.
While Thailand’s beaches are indeed superb they also present hazards too. Most notably of these is deaths from drowning which is not just confined to children(see table). Most resort areas have some form of warning system for dangerous conditions, but it is at best haphazard and in most cases downright confusing.
Finally, sand flies are also a common problem on some of Thailand’s beaches and the bite from these pesky little critters can lead to Leishmaniasis parasite infections.
Prevention is certainly better than cure(where available) and in many of the health issues visitors to Thailand face, prevention is possible. Use of protective insect repellents, practising safe sex, taking prophylactic drugs, immunisation and sensible behaviour on beaches and when near animals are a few that spring to mind.
For the vast majority of travellers Thailand remains a safe place to visit if you are aware of potential hazards and take precautions to safeguard your health. Which in practice means that all you are likely to take home is some great memories and photographs.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Leptospirosis(Weil’s disease), Leishmaniasis
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