Over 4,000 Maha Sarakham students positive for liver fluke

MAHASARAKHAM, July 7 (TNA) - More than 4,000 newly enrolled university students in Maha Sarakham province have tested positive for liver fluke, prompting authorities to tighten local food safety measures, officials said.

Pre-semester screening for the 2026 academic year revealed 4,233 infections among 12,733 new students at Mahasarakham University, and 380 cases out of 1,922 students at Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University. The figures exceed the province's general population infection average of 11 percent.

Maha Sarakham Governor Chumpit Decharat ordered health officials to inspect local restaurants, particularly papaya salad vendors, to ensure they use certified, cooked fermented fish (pla ra). The measures aim to reduce the long-term risk of bile duct cancer. Local vendors welcomed the inspections, stating they strictly use boiled fish sauce.

Dr. Hatcha Nueaythong, the provincial chief medical officer, said the high case count reflects the large volume of first-year students tested. The screening used a rapid urine-based test, which detects parasite fragments faster than traditional stool samples.

Liver fluke infection is primarily contracted by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater fish. The provincial health office plans to expand awareness campaigns in schools and communities to curb risky dietary habits. -819 (TNA)