Health Professionals

Clinical Updates

16 November 2011

Flooding in Thailand - Update

This revises the Clinical Update of 14 October 2010: Flooding in South East Asia – Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Thailand has been affected by the worst flooding in 50 years, caused by an exceptionally harsh monsoon season. 533 people, including 77 children, are reported to have died, with most of the child fatalities due to drowning [1].  

A map of flood affected regions in Thailand can be accessed on the ReliefWeb website.

The Thai Government’s Flood Relief Operation Center (FROC) indicates that the situation is gradually improving [2] and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not advise against travel to flood affected areas [3]. However, they both recommend caution as the work to mitigate the effects of the flooding continues [2, 3]. There is concern that cholera, dengue fever, influenza, leptospirosis and typhoid outbreaks may occur, although no significant increase in cases is currently reported [4]. A cluster of diarrhoea cases linked to a contaminated water tank in a shelter and isolated cases of leptospirosis have been reported [5].

Advice for travellers

Flooding increases the risk of diseases transmitted by food, water and insects, as well as accidents and injuries. Careful food and water hygiene and insect bite avoidance precautions should be practised by travellers in flood affected areas.

The risk of leptospirosis may increase during flooding [6]. Travellers should limit their exposure to water that may have been contaminated by rodent urine, which carries leptospirosis. Protective clothing should be worn by those who may be in direct contact with rodents, sewage or contaminated water. Cuts and grazes should be covered. There is no vaccine against leptospirosis. Pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis can be offered to travellers who cannot avoid exposure. Doxycycline can be prescribed for prevention of leptospirosis, at a dose of 200 mg weekly, starting one to two days before exposure and continued while at risk.

Travellers should check with the FCO website for current travel advice. Country-specific advice for travellers to Thailand is available on NaTHNaC’s Country Information Pages for Thailand.

General advice can also be found in NaTHNaC’s health information sheet: Advice for relief workers and other travellers to areas affected by natural disasters.

Anyone wishing to help should contact appropriate aid and charity agencies for guidance on how best they can help. Travelling to Thailand independently, without adequate preparation will potentially strain the already challenged emergency and medical services in the region.  

References

1. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF provides 300,000 water, sanitation, and hygiene items for flood victims in Thailand. 10 November 2011. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_60473.html

2. Reliefweb. Flood Relief Operation Center Spokespersons give a briefing on the updates regarding the flood situation. 14 November 2011. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at: http://reliefweb.int/node/458831

3. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Floods in Thailand. 16 November 2011. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand

4. Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Thailand Ministry of Public Health. Reported cases of notifiable disease by week, Thailand 2011 (2554).11 November 2011. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at: http://www.boe.moph.go.th/boedb/506data/54wk44.pdf

5. Thailand Flood Crisis and Disease Control Situation Report. 10 November 2011. [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at: http://www.ddc.moph.go.th/emg/flood/showimgpic.php?id=583

6. World Health Organization. 2011. Leptospirosis.  [Accessed 16 November 2011]. Available at:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases

/leptospirosis/en/

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