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Bedbugs, Legionella hit Phuket hotels’ health agenda

Bedbugs, Legionella hit Phuket hotels’ health agenda

PHUKET: The Department of Medical Sciences is enhancing health and safety standards in the hospitality industry with its ‘Clean Hotels with 3C’ initiative, training hotel operators in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga to monitor bedbugs, Legionella and Norovirus.

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By The Phuket News

Wednesday 5 February 2025 04:45 PM


 

Department Deputy Director-General Dr Ballang Uppong presided over the opening of the training session, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town today (Feb 5).

The event was attended by public health officials, academic experts, and representatives from 3-5 star hotels, with over 250 participants joining.

The initiative promotes three key hygiene principles ‒ Clean Bed, Clean Air and Clean Food ‒ to align with Thailand’s safe tourism policies, support economic growth, and protect public health, explained an official report of the event.

Dr Ballang emphasised the importance of monitoring common health risks in hotels.

For bedbugs, the issues were prevention and control, including addressing insecticide resistance, while Legionella bacteria, which cause severe respiratory infections, required strict prevention measures, Dr Ballang said.

Norovirus, a major source of gastroenteritis outbreaks, necessitated enhanced sanitation in kitchens and water quality checks, he added.

The training featured expert-led sessions on disease prevention and hotel sanitation standards.

Following the event, the Medical Science Center branch in Phuket will collaborate with hotel operators to conduct ongoing hygiene inspections to build confidence among tourists, the official report noted.

Dr Ballang encouraged hotels to join the ‘Clean Hotels with 3C’ initiative, helping to elevate Thai hospitality standards.

Interested operators were advised to  contact the Phuket branch of the Medical Science Center at 076-600119 to 21 for more information.