Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - February 19, 2001
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Dr Supachai Phataranuthaporn said 4-5% of Burmese workers in Ranong province have filariasis, a parasitic infection which leads to elephantiasis.
All the patients identified with the infection have been given medication.
It is estimated there are at least 100,000 Burmese employed in Ranong, while officially there should not be more than 12,000 immigrant workers in the province. The province has also observed an increase in the incidence of HIV/Aids in recent years.
Dr Arun Tawaisat of Ranong hospital said out of 30 deaths recorded at the hospital every month, 15 were caused by HIV/Aids.
Half the cases are Burmese while the remainder were Thais, he said.
Dr Arun said most of the deaths occurred among people 20-30 years old.
In addition, about five new HIV/Aids patients were admitted to the hospital every month, he said.
Dr Supachai said it is hoped that after the Feb 28 registration deadline for Burmese workers, it would be easier to monitor this group of mobile population. Charay Hosantikul, the kamnan of Khon Thi island in tambon Pak Nam, Muang district, said apart from the relapse of earlier controlled diseases like elephantiasis and malaria, Burmese workers hiring rooms on the island also suffered from diarrhoea, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids.
They also cause a lot of pollution, he said. "Many of them don't use toilets. They discard their waste and litter anywhere they want. We've often warned those providing homes for rent to make sure that these people maintain cleanliness in the village," Mr Charay said.
The 500-rai area of the island houses some 2,000 people, out of which over 500 are Burmese.
Mr Charay said he did not believe there would be a major change in the number of Burmese workers after the registration deadline, as most of these workers returned a day or two after they have been detained. "The Burmese border is only 30 minutes by boat from here and they can enter our island from any corner they like. There is no checkpoint here," Mr Charay added.
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