Although reliable data for dog population is essential for designing an effective strategy for rabies vaccination, it is difficult to precisely estimate the dog population, especially the stray dogs. This study estimated the dog population by census and capture-recapture method (CR), characterized dog population, described practicality and feasibility, and estimated the rabies vaccination coverage. Ten urban and rural areas in Lumlukka District, Pathum Thani Province were randomly selected. Results showed that stray dog population from census was lower than CR estimates in both urban and rural areas. The census showed that the majority of dogs were confined owned dogs in the urban area (70%) and unconfined owned dogs in the rural area (96%). The stray dog population from census was 8.0% in the urban and 4.4% in the rural areas. Rabies vaccination coverage among dogs in the urban was 84% and in the rural was 65%. Although CR method used less time and people than census, it was more complicated. The census method might underestimate the number of stray dogs while the CR failed to include the confined owned dogs. Therefore, the census method could be a preferable method to collect data of owned dogs and CR could provide a better estimate of stray dog population. Both methods could be used to monitor the rabies control program and plan for effective strategy to eradicate rabies in Thailand.

On 16 Oct 2009, a provincial health officer notified to the Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology that 50 Army Reserve Force Students (ARFS) from a two-week training camp in a northern province received treatment at a hospital for diarrhea in the past two days. An outbreak investigation was initiated to verify diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures. We reviewed medical records and interviewed all camp participants to identify ARFS with diarrhea. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify risk factors. A total of 257 diarrhea cases were identified from 470 people at the camp, including 256 ARFS (AR=57%) and one trainer (AR=17%). Common symptoms included abdominal pain (85%), loose stool (83%), fever (63%) and watery diarrhea (59%). Green chicken curry in coconut milk served at dinner on 12 Oct 2009 might be a risk factor (Adjusted odds ratio=4.5, 95% confidence interval=0.5, 42.1). No food or raw materials of the suspected meal was left for laboratory testing. Rectal swabs from seven patients and four food handlers, including the cook who prepared the suspected meal, were tested positive for Salmonella serogroup B. The outbreak suggested a common source. Food sanitation, particularly health screening for food handlers, should be emphasized for mass gathering.

On 18 Dec 2009, the Bureau of Epidemiology was notified that 20 students from a private kindergarten school were treated for vomiting and diarrhea. An investigation was conducted to verify the diagnosis, identify source of the outbreak, and implement prevention and control measures. We conducted a descriptive and retrospective cohort study. Medical records at the hospital were reviewed. We also interviewed students, teachers and cooks at the school. A case was a student in this school who developed vomiting with at least one of the followings: fever, diarrhea or abdominal pain from 18 to 22 Dec 2009. Twenty three clinical specimens (vomitus and rectal swabs) and food samples were collected, and sent to National Institute of Health for bacterial culture. Logistic regression was used to determine the food items associated with illness. Symptoms included vomiting (100%), abdominal pain (59%), diarrhea (31%) and fever (26%). Bacillus cereus was isolated from three out of six vomitus specimens as well as the sweet stewed egg and pork served for school lunch on 18 Dec 2009. Thus, this outbreak was due to Bacillus cereus (emetic form) and the common source was likely to be the sweet stewed egg and pork (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.4). To prevent similar outbreaks in the future, people involved in food preparation and serving should emphasize on personal hygiene and sanitary food handling practices. School administrators should exclude symptomatic cooks and food handlers from cooking.

Goat farming has increased substantially in Thailand as a result of government’s agricultural policies in the past. On 19 Oct 2009, the Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology received a notification of a confirmed and fatal case of brucellosis in a goat farmer. An investigation was launched to identify the magnitude and risk factors of the disease. A cross-sectional study among persons in contact with goats from the same marketing chain as the fatal case was performed. Sera samples of goats from three farms associated with the fatal case were collected. The fatal case was a 79-year-old male with hypertension, gout and renal calculi. He had been raising goats since 2007 until onset of the symptoms, without any protective equipment. He developed peritonitis and acute renal failure in June 2009, and eventually died from respiratory failure on 9 Sep 2009. Hemoculture of his specimen revealed positive for Brucella melitensis a month after his death. Three additional cases of human brucellosis were identified from 38 contacts (AR = 10.3%) and one goat tested positive for Brucella. Most of the patients experienced myalgia and arthalgia. The study showed that all cases had history of unprotected exposure to goat carcasses or meat (PR undefined, P-value = 0.006). This outbreak of brucellosis among goat farmers emphasizes the importance of health education for goat farmers and the prompt sharing of data between human and animal health professionals.