As the flood situation continues to ease, a new threat has emerged in the form of the water-borne disease leptospirosis which has already claimed three lives.

As of January 31, a total of 157 people in the region suffered from this water-borne disease, three of whom had died (two in Krabi and one in Trang) and three others had been admitted to intensive care units, the deputy permanent secretary for Public Health said.

Krabi saw a six times increase in the number of Leptospirosis patients while there was a two-fold increase in Nakhon Si Thammarat compared to the same period last year, he added.

People who suffered from fever and muscular pain after wading through water and mud should see a doctor. If they delayed medical attention until they coughed blood or had jaundice, the risk of death would increase by 50 per cent, he warned.

The severity in many cases there had prompted officials to collect blood and urine samples for tests at labs to analyse the Leptospirosis strain, he added.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation deputy chief yesterday reported that only Pak Phanang and Chian Yai districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat province; Banna Derm and Phunphin districts in Surat Thani province and Kuan Khanoon and Muang in Phatthalung province were still flooded.

He added that each family of the 96 who had perished in the floods would get at least Bt107,000 in compensation from related agencies.

(Source: The Nation, Thailand)