Thailand, Myanmar join hand in fighting malaria, dengue fever

BANGKOK, August 5 (TNA) - Myanmar and Thai health authorities are cooperating in containing the spread of malaria and dengue fever along the two countries’ border after noticing the severe outbreak of the two diseases. Thai Public Health office in the border province of Ranong has agreed to cooperate with the malaria controlling centre under Myanmar’s Ministry of Health in containing epidemic of the two diseases. Official statistics showed that in 2011 a total of 487 Thais and 857 foreigners suffered from the two diseases. Up to 70 per cent of the total patients lived in Ranong’s Kra Buri border district. Ministry of Health of Myanmar said the cooperation between the two countries would efficiently assist in containing the spread of malaria along the Thai-Myanmar border. Meanwhile, Supachai Kaivaree, chairman of Tambon Mamu Administrative Organisation, said the changing direction of water of Kra Buri River which marks the border between the two countries has eroded the banks on the Thai side. Supachai said more than 80 rai on the Thailand has been lost due to erosion. He said attempts are being made by building a dyke along the river to prevent the erosion. Ranong officials said designs on the dyke construction have been made after it is found 18 spots along the river’s banks have been eroded while it is estimated that a budget amounting 500 million baht is needed for the construction. (TNA)