The figure was revealed by PPHO Chief Dr Kusak Kukkiattikoon at the Phuket Provincial Meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier this week.
The meeting, the ninth such meeting so far this year, was chaired by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwanarat and focused on ‘flood relief, traffic solutions and public health’, said an official report of the event.
Present for the occasion were Vice Governor Norasak Suksomboon, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum and a host of heads of government offices on the island.
In his report on the province’s infectious disease situation for 2024, PPHO Chief Dr Kusak said the province had recorded 11 cases of whooping cough, 9,425 influenza cases with one death, and 1,999 cases of dengue fever, also with one fatality.
Vaccination remains the key preventive measure for whooping cough, the report noted.
However, that is all the report marked on dengue, one of Phuket’s most prevalent and recurring health threats.
Confirmation of the number of dengue infections in Phuket comes more than two months after the Department of Disease Control regional office confirmed that Phuket from Jan 1 to July 19 had recorded the highest rate of dengue infections in the seven provinces of Upper Southern Thailand.
Despite issuing a dengue advisory last month, while the island was subjected to some three weeks of consistent rain, the PPHO still has not published its own report of dengue infections in Phuket.
Previously, normal dengue reports by health officials in Thailand include the areas and demographics of the people who contracted the disease. The PHHO does not issue such reports.
In terms of tourism, the meeting was told that Phuket attracted 8.6 million visitors from January to August 2024, with 77.1% being international tourists.
The total tourism revenue reached B323.6 billion, reflecting a 29.64% increase for the same period last year.
Other key issues discussed included flood and mudslide relief efforts. The governor emphasised the urgency for all government agencies to assist affected residents according to their resources, said the report.
Agencies responsible for water storage were urged to prepare for the dry season, with continuous monitoring of weather forecasts to ensure public safety, the report added.
The Phuket Provincial Police presented their traffic management plan for the Vegetarian Festival, ensuring officers would monitor traffic and provide safety at shrines.
Additionally, police are keeping a close watch on the use of large firecrackers and fireworks across the province, the report said. (See ‘Firecrackers blamed for setting car ablaze’)