Food poisoning cases expected to rise late this summer

The Ministry of Public Health has encouraged people to eat only cooked and hot meals, as more patients with diarrhea are expected to increase by the end of summer.

Department of Disease Control Director-General Dr. Sopon Mekthon said the recent survey has revealed that the number of people eating half-cooked meals or raw meat has declined by 4.5 percent.

However, 14 percent more people have refused to use a serving spoon when sharing food among family members between 2014 and 2015.

Respondents have also become more aware of common diseases in summer. From 2003 to 2015, an average of 130,000 people in Thailand suffered from food poisoning each year. Most of them were found in the North and Northeast, and figures increased in late summer.

Less than ten people, mostly children and farmers, died from dysentery during the same period. Dr. Sopon encouraged people to eat hot meals and use serving spoons when sharing food to reduce food poisoning risks.

Food poisoning symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and fever. The Director General recommended drinking plenty of saline beverages if anyone is found to have severe diarrhea.

However, food poisoning victims must be taken to the hospital if their condition does not improve or if traces of blood are found in their stool.

NNT

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