Preventing Respiratory Infections: The Importance of Wearing Masks and Staying Informed – Expert Advice from Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong

2023-09-25 08:04:01

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) said that following Thailand Announcement of COVID-19 disease It is a contagious disease that must be monitored. Since 1 Oct. 2022, people have chosen to wear masks voluntarily. It was found that the trend of respiratory infectious diseases especially influenza increased more than many years ago Reflecting on wearing a mask Can help prevent and greatly reduces the risk of respiratory infections

Even though the COVID-19 situation At this time, there will be a continuous decrease in patients. But the influenza situation There is still a tendency to increase. With data from 1 Jan. – 16 Sep. 2023, there were 185,216 patients, an illness rate of 279.9 per 100,000 people. There were 4 deaths reported, the case fatality rate was 0.002%.

* In one week, influenza patients increased by more than 10,000.

Only the week of 10-16 September, there were more than 12,000 additional patients, which is higher than the number of patients in the same period of 2022 and the average of the past 5 years. However, all provinces have been ordered to The disease control investigation team has been prepared to support the outbreak.

Dr. Opas said that Thailand is currently still in the rainy season. This is the season of the outbreak of respiratory infectious diseases. The main diseases that still need to be monitored are as follows:

1. COVID-19 symptoms usually include fever, cough, sore throat, aches, fatigue, and may have difficulty breathing.

2. Influenza Most will have a high fever. Muscle pain, dry cough, clear snot, loss of appetite

3. RSV disease is characterized by fever, coughing and sneezing. It usually occurs in children younger than 5 years.

Dr. Opas further said that the transmission of all 3 diseases is the same, namely coughing, sneezing, touching droplets of mucus, saliva, phlegm, or sharing objects. Therefore, the most important thing is when there are symptoms of respiratory disease. or when having to enter a crowded place You must wear a mask, covering your mouth and nose completely when coughing or sneezing. Avoid close contact with people who are weak, such as the elderly and young children, and wash your hands frequently. To help protect and reduce the risk of infection with these respiratory diseases

In addition, parents’ cooperation is requested. Take care and observe the symptoms of your children who are students. If the child is sick and has respiratory symptoms It is recommended to stay at home to take care of, monitor symptoms and not spread the virus further at school or child care centers. Schools are asked to set up a screening system for respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, and snot in order to separate children and not mix with other children. and consider closing classrooms When many sick children are found in a row

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