Immigrants blamed for malaria outbreak

[troopie]

Justified or not, this sounds like Japan -- if in doubt, blame the foreigners!
Immigrants blamed for malaria outbreak

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN: -- Malaria has broken out in a border village in Prachuab Khiri Khan Province, a problem which local residents blame on immigrants from Myanmar.

Mr. Sommai Sinchan, a community leader in Baan Sirilom, told reporters today that immigrants working in palm oil and rubber plantations had introduced malaria to the 400-strong village, 20 of whose residents are currently receiving hospital treatment for the disease.

His words were echoed by Mr. Phumchai Inthawat, head of the district’s insect-borne disease control division, who also blamed the movements of immigrant labourers for the spread of the illness.

He also noted that the creation of artificial rain had exacerbated the problem, as rain had fallen in areas of stagnant water where the malaria-carrying mosquitoes bred.

Since the end of April, 47 local residents have fallen victim to malaria, and local health officials are desperately trying to spray insecticide to stem the problem.

[PeteC]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think malaria can be spread by human to human contact. So, I guess the immigrants walked over from Burma with a swarm of malarial mosquitos perched on their heads, right? Pete

[troopie]

Precisely! Never let science get in the way of good old xenophobia, ah? Then again, maybe it was a bunch of Burmese mossies on tourist visas they were blaming

[Bamboo Grove]

I guess if someone has already been infected with malaria, there's a risk that a certain kind of mosquito could carry it to another person by having a slurp of both of them.

[PeteC]

I don't know BG. They've proven HIV can't be transmitted that way. Pete

[lomuamart]

I'm no doctor, but my understanding is that malaria can be passed on from person to person if the female mosquito, which carries the parasite, bites an infected person and then almost immediately bites you.
The male mosquito is not a carrier.
Obviously, if you're bitten directly by the female you could contract the disease.
Person to person, via mosquito, is very unlikely unless in extremely high risk areas. There are very few of these now in thailand, although the disease is reappearing again along the cambodian border. The Burmese side has always been the most high risk.