Health and city officials in Thailand downplayed risks from rising infections from the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is linked to serious birth defects, and expressed concern that disclosing information would damage its tourism industry.
On Friday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warned of the increasing spread in Thailand of Zika, which can cause microcephaly in unborn children.
Thailand is combating the risk by spraying mosquito-infested areas, said Anuttarasakdi Ratchatatat, epidemiologist at the health ministry’s Bureau of Vector Borne Disease.
It has not changed or updated its Zika prevention plan since Singapore, which has a more extensive prevention campaign, began reporting a spike in cases from late August, Reuters reported.
Twenty-two new cases were confirmed on Sunday in the upmarket Sathorn area of Bangkok, part of the city’s Central Business District, including a pregnant woman who later gave birth with no complications.
The health ministry on Monday urged Thais not to panic as it said the virus was not deadly or contagious-though in fact it can be passed on sexually-and ministry epidemiologist Anuttarasakdi added that it did not want to deter tourists.
“The information on Zika is quite sensitive because if we say which province has infections then attention will turn on that province, and if that province is popular with tourists, it will have an impact on tourism,” he said.
“We don’t want people to be too alarmed.”
Health authorities in Thailand are not treating Zika as seriously as dengue, which is much more widespread in the country, said Assistant Professor Watcharee Chokejindachai from the Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University in Bangkok, because of a perception that Zika is less dangerous.
“Dengue is perceived as more serious; it can lead to death. That’s why they pay more attention to dengue than Zika,” Watcharee said.
“Diagnosing Zika is also more expensive than dengue because it takes time-up to eight hours-whereas with dengue we have a rapid test which takes 15 minutes.”
Several countries in Southeast Asia have reported a rising number of Zika cases, but Thailand has one of the highest numbers in the region, with more than 100 confirmed since January.
A total of 30 pregnant Thai women with the virus are being monitored, the health ministry said. Six have given birth with no complications, so far.
