August 4, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – The department of disease control told Thai people not to be panicked by the pneumonic plague as there has been no plague spreading in Thailand yet.
Pneumonic plague last spread here in 1952.
It is one of the five dangerous contagious diseases, and public health ministry can announce the communicable disease zone immediately if the disease happens.
The plague is caused by a kind of bacterium found in rat or squirrel’s teeth. Carriers include rat and human fleas.
The infection takes place when humans are bitten by those fleas. Symptoms are swollen lymph node and abscess.
The disease will spread to parts of the body through blood circulation, and become critical when the lung is infected which will lead to death within 24 hours.
Public health ministry earlier announced austere measures to be used at 64 checkpoints nationwide including all airports.
