The Ministry of Public Health has set up an emergency operations centre (EOC) to monitor the cholera situation following two suspected cases found at hospitals in Tak province.
The disease has killed two people and infected 300 others in Shwe Kokko town of Myanmar, which is located near Tak.
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the public health permanent secretary, yesterday said Mae Ramat and Mae Sot districts in Tak province are at high risk due to their proximity to Shwe Kokko.
These areas contain numerous factories and a mixed population of foreign nationals, he said, adding the upcoming New Year celebrations, involving social gatherings and shared meals, further increase the risk of infections.
An emergency operations centre has been set up in Tak, with the Provincial Public Health Office serving as the front operations centre, to ensure preparedness.
Currently, 300 cases have been reported in Shwe Kokko, with two fatalities and 56 patients hospitalised.
In Thailand, there are two suspected patients, one being treated at Mae Sot Hospital and the other at Mae Ramat Hospital, which are pending laboratory confirmation.
Both patients, male and female, are Myanmar nationals residing in Thailand.
The woman came to Thailand to deliver her baby. It was believed that she transmitted the disease from relatives who came to visit her from Myanmar.
Dr Opas said Thailand was ready to support Myanmar by deploying outbreak investigation teams to provide guidelines on disease prevention and control, to mitigate cross-border transmission.
Preventive measures include educating Myanmar residents on disease prevention and monitoring Thai patients with symptoms of diarrhoea. Proactive surveillance in high-risk areas such as border communities, factories and temporary shelters has also been implemented as part of the measures.
Pharmacists, community leaders and volunteers in migrant healthcare have been instructed to be watchful for cases of severe diarrhoea, ensure clean water supply and monitor the quality of food sold by vendors at public events.
The EOC has been asked to check and inventory local medical supplies including saline solutions, chlorine, stool testing kits and rapid test kits to ensure sufficient resources.
