Phuket authorities launch campaign against dengue fever in schools

Now that Thailand’s new school year has started last week, Phuket’s authorities are on their guard for dengue fever. On Thursday, the Public Health and Environment Division of Phuket City Municipality brought fogging machines to schools, kindergardens, and vocational colleges, to fight mosquitos.

Phuket hasn’t had dengue outbreaks in recent years, however, a Songkhla doctor warned this week that the risk of contracting it in Thailand is higher in the rainy season, because pools of water are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Phuket Provincial Health Office Chief Thanit Sermkaew used to regularly remind the public that “this disease returns every rainy season”.

Workers from the Public Health and Evironmental Division fogged 9 schools early in the morning, before students arrived.

Dengue fever is caused by bites from Aedes Aegypti mosquitos (the black and white striped ones)…