Daily Update on Tsunami Disaster THAILAND 7 JANUARY 2005 3pm 1. Casualty update Province Reporte DEAD Injured d Missing Thai Foreign Unknown Total Thai Foreign Unknown Total Phang 2,043 1,950 2,213 0 4,163 4,344 1,253 0 5,597 Nga Krabi 831 288 188 210 686 808 568 0 1,376 Phuket 683 154 105 3 262 591 520 0 1,111 Ranong 12 167 2 0 169 215 31 0 246 Trang 1 3 2 0 5 92 20 0 112 Satun 0 6 0 0 6 15 0 0 15 TOTAL 3,570 2,568 2,510 213 5,291 6,065 2,392 0 8,457 Source: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPM), Ministry of Interior (as of 6pm, 6-1-05) Ø Counts on DEATH are based on the number of bodies recovered Ø Counts on the INJURED are based on the number of people rescued and sent to hospitals, and this includes the number of people discharged from hospitals. Ø Counts on MISSING are based on the number of people reported missing to the officials. Ø NOTE: There are a number of bodies recovered but unidentified, which may overlap with the number of people reported missing. 2. Disease Surveillance in 6 provinces affected by Tsunami, Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health 2.1 Update as of 5 January 2005 Out of a total of 117 new cases seeking care: · Diarrheal syndrome = 77 (no deaths) · Respiratory syndrome = 12 (no deaths) (8 influenza, 4 pneumonia) · Fever syndrome = 1 (no death) (dengue) · Vaccine preventable diseases = 0 1 · Central nervous system infection = 0 · Wound infections = 18 2.2 Cumulative cases (26-12-04 to 5-1-05) A total of 1,159 cumulative cases have been reported, with 2 deaths. These include: · Diarrhea cases = 159 (no deaths) (specimens collected, no vibrio cholerae01, but 4 cases were +ve of vibrio parahaemolyticus) 2.3 New events related to disaster and call for investigation · Investigated Belgian forensic team as per WHO’s request. Four were reported with respiratory syndrome (bronchitis), but no severity was reported. They will continue to follow-up on the matter. · Several volunteers at Yan Yao temple, Phang Nga Province developed diarrhea. Investigations identified 4 cases, and active case finding has been conducted to locate more cases. The municipality has been informed about preparation of the food. · Special attention is required in Phang Nga province, where several camps for displaced persons have been set up. Improved sanitation required in camp kitchens. Surveillance system in some camps are urgently required to track down cases. 2.4 New events unrelated to disaster but investigated in the 4 provinces (Ranong, Krabi, Phuket Phang Nga) · 3 Malaria cases were yesterday reported in a construction site at Kathu District, Phuket. (2 workers originally from Udon Thani Province (North-east) and 1 from Nakhon Sawan Province (North). A vector control team is working in the area. · A team is investigating into an unexplained death of a child in Muang District, Krabi Province. 2.5 Follow up issues: · 16 DHF cases have been reported in the past 10 days in Phuket Province (exceeded average of 4 cases/week). · 1 malaria case reported in a construction site in Kathu District, Phuket Province (out of a total of 40 workers). Active case finding is being done to investigate and determine vector borne or other risk factors. · Investigation team visited 2nd death case in Takua Thung District in Phuket Province and found niece of the index case with diarrhea. A total of 5 specimens were collected from family members for test at the district hospital. The investigation team will monitor the health situation closely with local health officials. · A team was sent to investigate cluster of diarrheal cases who came for treatment at Thalang District, Phuket Province. There were 10 cases with common exposure during New Year Party. Suspected food was fermented noodles and shellfish. Fish specimens from Sarasin bridge (linking Phang Nga and Phuket provinces) was sent to the Department of Medical Sciences, which will further coordinate with the Department of Fishery for confirmation. This event is not related to the disaster. 2 3. Other Public Health Issues: · A Swedish doctor was admitted to the Phuket-Bangkok (private) Hospital. She has been diagnosed of alterative psychosis. This patient may have some underlying mental illness and aggravated by stress from the crisis. The MOPH is looking into this case. 4. WHO’s action: · SEARO RD held a press briefing at Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Bangkok. · SEARO RD met with TUC (Thai-US CDC Collaboration Centre) representative in Bangkok to discuss about collaboration in assisting the Thai government in dealing with the health impact of the tsunami disaster. · SEARO RD visited WHO country office Tsunami Operation Room, was summoned on the action taken and gave policies on what should be done. · SEARO RD briefly attended the MOPH Disease Control Department War Room Meeting and was briefed about the department’s disease surveillance and response. · WHO Thailand yesterday issued a press release on operation centre and coordination with public health counterpart. 5. Other Issues : 6. Media Reports: · THE NATION, 7-1-05 Threat from disease serious, WHO says At least US$60 million (Bt2.4 billion) is needed to address urgent public-health needs in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami catastrophe, said the World Health Organisation. The funds are needed primarily to prevent outbreaks of water-borne and other infectious diseases as well as to deal with the mental conditions of disaster survivors, the WHO said in a statement released in Bangkok yesterday. An estimated three to five million people are currently displaced, and may be without access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water, sanitation, shelter, food and basic medical supplies, the statement said. The WHO has conducted a preliminary assessment on the public-health impact of the tsunami disaster, in cooperation with the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) and other UN agencies. The team visited several sites, including Ban Nam Khem village in Phang Nga, the worst-hit village in the area. One- fourth of the estimated 4,000 people in the village were missing and the rest seeking shelter with relatives, friends and support groups of the government and NGOs. The WHO expressed concern over the psychosocial needs of traumatised victims, particularly children, migrant workers and their families. WHO representative to Thailand Dr William Aldis, who has visited many affected areas, said that despite strong support from the international community, it is important for local therapists and counsellors to be involved. “Counselling services have to be given by native speakers,” he said. 3 Based on a first-hand observation of the situation in the worst-hit areas of the country in Phuket and Phang Nga, the WHO recommends that special attention be given to care for post-traumatic stress, which includes counselling and the restoration of normal ways of life. Aldis said the mass-casualty management carried out in Thailand resulted in a very low mortality rate of 0.3 per cent. Regarding post-disaster surveillance and monitoring of diseases that are likely to occur, WHO noted that the Ministry of Public Health has strengthened surveillance for epidemic-prone diseases in affected areas, and has established additional surveillance response teams. There was no evidence of disease outbreaks resulting from the tsunami disaster, said WHO. The WHO has set up a 24-hour Tsunami Operation Centre at its Thailand office. The centre is responsible for coordinating WHO’s relief and restoration efforts with the government of Thailand, the UN agencies and other government and non-government counterparts · UN to use its regional headquarters in Bangkok to facilitate disaster relief and reconstruction work across the area. (The Nation, 7-1-05) · The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Thailand for managing to successfully prevent outbreaks of diseases in the wake of last week’s tsunamis, the director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Thawat Suntharachan revealed. (Thai News Agency, 7-1-05) · Debris on the resort island of Koh Phi Phi (Krabi Province) is likely to take months to clear, the director-general of the Ministry of Transport’s Marin Department warned yesterday. (Thai News Agency, 7-1-05) · Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today expressed his gratitude to all public and private sector agencies, as well as ordinary members of the public, who have helped in the tsunami relief effort.(Thai News Agency, 7-1-05) 7. Contact Details: · Dr William Aldis, WHO Representative to Thailand, Tel: 66-1-9342280, email: [email protected]; [email protected] · Dr Kanchit Limpakarnjanarat, Short Term Consultant (IVD allotment), 66- 1- 755 9012, email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] · Maria Cristina PROFILI, WHO Expert from EURO, Tel: 66-1-8056179, email: [email protected] · Elisabeth Emerson, EHA Officer, [email protected] · (66) 1 810 6816 · Mr Narintr Tima, Tel: 669-7996801, email: [email protected] · Dr Pathom Sawanpanyalert, Tel: 661-612-4480, Email: [email protected] · Ms Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, Tel: 661-8151226, Email: [email protected]; [email protected] ---------------------------------------- 4 .