Bangkok: The government warns of a twofold increase in Hepatitis A cases during the summer, emphasizing strict control over food and water to prevent outbreaks. Today, Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Public Health, is closely monitoring the hepatitis A situation after data from the disease surveillance system showed a continuous increase in patients, approximately twice as high as the same period last year. The cases are concentrated in the central and eastern regions, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Rayong, and Chanthaburi, which is considered a warning sign of the risk of a cluster outbreak during the summer season.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lalida stated that hepatitis A is a contagious disease spread through contaminated food and water, entering the body via "feces-to-mouth" transmission. It is commonly found in undercooked food, substandard drinking water, or ice. In the early stages, symptoms may be subtle, such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and nausea, before becoming more pronounced with jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and dark urine. Furthermore, some infected individuals may be asymptomatic but can still transmit the virus.
The disease has an average incubation period of about 28 days, meaning that many patients are unaware of the source of their infection, and the virus can spread even before symptoms appear. This makes disease control challenging, especially in areas where people consume food from multiple sources.
The government has instructed public health agencies to intensify proactive case finding, monitor for cluster formation, and rigorously inspect food and water safety to control the situation from the early stages and prevent widespread transmission.
As for the public, please adhere to the principle of "prevention is better than cure" by eating cooked food, drinking clean water, avoiding ice or foods you are unsure about, and washing your hands before every meal. "Hepatitis A is a preventable disease if we reduce the risks at the source. We urge the public to exercise extra caution during the summer months to help reduce the spread of the disease and protect their own and their families' health," Ms. Lalida said.