Friday, 02 September 2011 20:57 Kun Chan
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – More than 400 refugees—mostly children—in Karenni refugee camp in Mae Hong Song in northern Thailand have been infected by a fever with symptoms similar to dengue fever.
Camp health officials said that about two-thirds of the patients are children between the ages of eight and 18, who have high temperatures, coughs and a sore throat. Officials are doing tests now to determine the exact cause of the illness.
If the disease is diagnosed as dengue fever, an infected patient must be separated from other people, the medical official said.
During August, more than 300 refugees received medical treatment at the clinic in Quarter No. 9, and more than 100 received treatment at a clinic in Quarter No. 1.
“Many children who attended school are infected with a virus. When they sneeze, the virus spreads in the air,” a medical worker told Mizzima. Medical officials said that a similar fever outbreak spread through Karenni camp No. 1 in 2009.
Also, starting two weeks ago, an eye disease has infected 102 patients in the camp, said Nga Meh, a clinic health worker.
Meanwhile, health workers distributing information about preventive measures to combat the diseases.
About 15,000 Karenni refugees who fled from the fighting in Burma between government troops and the Karenni National Progressive Party have taken refuge at Karenni camp No. 1.
There are nine refugee camps along the Thai border, including two Karenni camps. Out of more than 145,000 refugees in the camps, about 65,000 were sent to resettlement countries from 2006 to 2010.
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – More than 400 refugees—mostly children—in Karenni refugee camp in Mae Hong Song in northern Thailand have been infected by a fever with symptoms similar to dengue fever.
Camp health officials said that about two-thirds of the patients are children between the ages of eight and 18, who have high temperatures, coughs and a sore throat. Officials are doing tests now to determine the exact cause of the illness.
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| Refugees walk in a camp in Mae Hong Song Province, Thailand. Photo: Screenshot Al Jazeera/Mizzima Production |
If the disease is diagnosed as dengue fever, an infected patient must be separated from other people, the medical official said.
During August, more than 300 refugees received medical treatment at the clinic in Quarter No. 9, and more than 100 received treatment at a clinic in Quarter No. 1.
“Many children who attended school are infected with a virus. When they sneeze, the virus spreads in the air,” a medical worker told Mizzima. Medical officials said that a similar fever outbreak spread through Karenni camp No. 1 in 2009.
Also, starting two weeks ago, an eye disease has infected 102 patients in the camp, said Nga Meh, a clinic health worker.
Meanwhile, health workers distributing information about preventive measures to combat the diseases.
About 15,000 Karenni refugees who fled from the fighting in Burma between government troops and the Karenni National Progressive Party have taken refuge at Karenni camp No. 1.
There are nine refugee camps along the Thai border, including two Karenni camps. Out of more than 145,000 refugees in the camps, about 65,000 were sent to resettlement countries from 2006 to 2010.
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