Pre-arrival : Special Announcement

Special Announcement 

 This information has been compiled for you by the Infection Control Department Ratchaphreuk Hospital in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Ministry of Public Health in Thailand (MOPH). 

Thai MoPH-Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)-Situation. 

Please find the link here for the daily update. 

Thailand : https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php 

https://www.cdc.gov/#

https://www.moicovid.com/

WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard https://covid19.who.int/ 

WHO- COVID-19 Thailand https://covid19.who.int/region/searo/country/th 

US CDC COVID Data Tracker https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/index.html#cases_casesinlast7day 

GUIDANCE TO PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION 

1. Maintain social distancing of at least 2 meters from other people. 
2. Avoid crowded places and always wear a facemask while inside the airplane. 
3. Do not use your hands to cover your mouth to avoid contamination if you are coughing and sneezing while wearing a mask. 
4. Try not to frequently touch public areas or digital touch screens. 
5. Practice a healthier lifestyle by eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, etc. 
6. Seek immediate medical help if you have any symptoms such as fever, cough or breathing difficulties. 

GUIDANCE DURING THE GROUND TRAVEL 

1. Avoid touching surfaces 
   • Such as counter tables, digital touch screens, etc. If you happen to touch these areas at some point, wash your hands if there is an available soap and water for 20 seconds or clean your hands with 60% alcohol solution. 
2. Maintain social distancing 
   • Stay at least 2 meters apart from others to maintain social distancing. 
   • It is best to travel during non-peak hours to avoid crowds. 
3. Practice hand hygiene. 
   • Always clean your hands with 60% alcohol solution each time you have to enter or leave the transportation or stations. 
   • Wash your hands for 20 seconds if there is available soap and water once you have reached your destination. 
   • If social distancing is unavoidable, always wear your mask. 

Advice before traveling abroad regarding Monkey pox disease 

Monkeypox is a disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, which is the same group as chickenpox or smallpox, but is less severe. The disease was originally caused by a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans and is found in many rodents such as rats, squirrels and monkeys. Recently there is also evidence of a person-to-person contact. The disease can be transmitted through contact with the blood, secretions or wounds of an infected animal, and the consumption of undercooked infected meat as well. The infection from person to person can be transmitted through contact with secretions, touching lesions, or sharing items with an infected person. The transmission through inhalation aerosols is through prolonged close contact. After being infected, the patient will begin to have symptoms within 5-20 minutes. 

Symptoms of the disease are divided into two stages. The first stage is fever, headache, body aches, and enlarged lymph nodes. There may be coughing and sore throat in some cases. Enlarged lymph nodes are a distinctive feature that distinguishes it from other types of Exanthema Tous Fever. The second stage is the rash phase which occurs 1-3 days after the fever. The appearance of the rash starts from a flat red rash to a raised red rash and then a blister and finally, pustules, respectively. Then it will scab and peel off. The rash is more common on the face, arms, legs, palms and soles than on the body. In some cases, there may be a rash on the mouth mucosa, genitals and conjunctiva. In those who are infected, they are less contagious at the onset of the fever but are most contagious from the onset of the rash until all the scabs are removed. Monkeypox generally resolves on its own in 2-4 weeks, but in younger or immunocompromised patients, it can be more severe and have complications such as, complications of bacterial infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, bloodstream infections, and cornea infection that can affect vision. The chance of death from Monkeypox in the general population is 3-6%, and pediatric patients are more likely to die than adults. 

Prevention: In the past, a smallpox vaccine was used to prevent Monkeypox, but at this time the vaccine is not generally available and is not yet available in Thailand. Therefore, current prevention focuses on self-defense, washing hands frequently, not sharing personal items with others, avoiding contact with infected people or people who are at risk of contracting the disease, avoiding contact with animals that may be carriers of the disease, and not eating undercooked meat. 

The advice for travelers: Avoiding contact with animals that may carry the disease, avoid contact with infected people or people at risk of contracting the disease, such as those who have close contacts with confirmed cases within 21 days, maintaining personal hygiene, closely monitoring the outbreak situation, and observing your symptoms while being in the risk area until 21 days after leaving the risk area. If you have a fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and rash, seeing a doctor is recommended, and also you should give your doctor a history of exposure or travel history to high-risk areas. 

Measures for travelers returning from Monkeypox outbreak countries 

You will be screened for symptoms and risk history at the screening point. 

If you have a history of contacting with a disease carrier animal or infected patients, please inform the International Communicable Disease Control Officer and report your symptoms regularly until 21 days have passed. 

In the case of Monkeypox patients found on any flight, people in contact with the patients on that flight will continue to be followed up. 

For more information please visit : https://ddc.moph.go.th/monkeypox/index.php 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox

Weather Status 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/th/bangkok/318849/weather-forecast/318849

https://www.accuweather.com/en/th/mueang-khon-kaen/1-318585_1_al/weather-forecast/1-318585_1_al