Covid-19 cases on the rise, health officials say

Dr Jurai Wongsawat, senior medical expert and spokeswoman for the Department of Disease Control (DDC), speaks during a media briefing on preparedness and health protection on Tuesday. (Photo: Department of Disease Control) Covid-19 infections in Thailand are on an upward trend, with an average of 15,000 new cases reported each week over the past four weeks, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Health officials are urging the public to keep track of disease outbreaks and health risks associated with the rainy season and changing weather conditions, while taking appropriate preventive measures to reduce illness and severe disease.

From Jan 1 to Sept 15, Thailand recorded 135,667 cumulative cases of Covid-19, equivalent to a morbidity rate of 206 cases per 100,000 population. There were 26 deaths.

Although the figures have risen slightly, they remain lower than those recorded over the past two to three years, according to Dr Jurai Wongsawat and Dr Weerawat Manosuthi, senior medical experts with the DDC, who held a briefing on Tuesday.

In just one month, from Aug 9 to Sept 8, a total of 64,937 Covid-19 cases were reported nationwide.

Over the past four weeks, the number of cases has risen by an average of 15,000 per week, while deaths have averaged two to four per week, said Dr Jurai. The provinces with the highest number of cases are Chon Buri, Bangkok and Phuket.

“The highest incidence rate was recorded among children under one year old, followed by children aged 1-4,” she said. “Among working-age adults, those aged 20-29 had the highest number of cases, followed by those aged 30-39.”

Of the 26 Covid-19 deaths so far this year, 21 were in the high-risk “608” group. This group comprises people aged 60 and over and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.

Dr Weerawat Manosuthi, senior medical expert and Department of Disease Control (DDC) spokesman, speaks about the Covid-19 situation during a briefing on Tuesday. (Photo: Department of Disease Control)

Dr Weerawat said the dominant Covid-19 strain in Thailand was NB.1.8.1, followed by JN.1, with both strains generally causing mild symptoms.

However, there have been reports of PQ.16.1.1, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as a variant under monitoring. Thailand has so far recorded six cases of the variant, representing a slight increase, but there has been no indication that it causes more severe illness, he said.

According to the DDC, the five most common illnesses reported during the period from Aug 9 to Sept 8 were influenza, diarrhoeal disease, Covid-19, pneumonia and hand, foot and mouth disease.

The five diseases with the highest patient fatality rates during the same period were rabies, Legionnaires’ disease, melioidosis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and encephalitis.

From Jan 1 to Sept 8, Thailand recorded 359,672 influenza cases and 57 deaths. The number of cases is on an upward trend, with children aged 5-9 accounting for the largest proportion of patients. Most had not received an influenza vaccination.

The strain detected most frequently in August was A/H1N1 (pdm09).

From Jan 1 to Sept 8, a total of 8,578 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were reported, with one death involving a two-month-old infant who was a premature birth.

Most RSV patients were children aged under one year. Cases are increasing, although the number remains lower than that recorded last year.