Health warnings should not concern tourists

PHUKET: Following health warnings issued by the Phuket Provincial Health Department (PHD) on January 2, Dr Jessada Chaikhunnarath, Specialist in Preventive Medicine, confirmed that tourists are not at serious risk of diarrhea or malarial infections. “There were no recorded cases of serious diarrhea or dysentery among tourists in the year 2000. The PHD health survey includes reports from every hospital and health office on the island,” Dr Jessada told the Gazette. “As long as tourists follow hotel instructions and do not drink the tap water, they will be safe,” he added. The PHD has also been running the “Clean Food Good Taste” campaign since 1999, which helps the public identify restaurants in Phuket that have passed the campaign hygiene tests. Tourists may look for the “Clean Food Good Taste” signs placed in front of 140 restaurants across the island. “They can feel secure dining in those places,” Dr Jessada said. He also explained that in Phuket there were no reported cases of malaria in tourists in the year 2000. The groups at highest risk are plantation and construction workers.