Udon isn't in this warning, but Dengue Fever is throughout the country.

Ratchaburi - There has been a fivefold annual increase in the incidence of dengue fever here. It has killed four people since the beginning of the year.

The province is suffering the second worst outbreak in the country. In all, 1,400 people have been infected.

Public Health deputy permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit visited yesterday to find out why.

The ministry declared Bang Phae, Photharam, and Damnoen Saduak districts emergency zones. Special measures are being implemented to control mosquitoes.

Paijit visited patients at Photharam Hospital.

Warning signs have been erected instructing residents to clear their properties of standing water where mosquitoes can bread. Failure to do so can mean one month in jail or a Bt2,000 fine.

Yes you ae absolutly right, the dammed thing can lie for up to one year in a dry spot then with fresh water hatch and do the deed.
The mosquito does not like ponds and things, but prefers fresh water, also lives living indoors as opposed to outside, but unlike a mosquito, does NOT make a sound when flying.
can be deadly, have a whole speil about it but suggest you take a peek on the internet to update yourself on the little sod.
it is in Thailand, maybe more so this year as we seem to have an abundance of water.

My friend was taken ill about two months ago.He went to Aek Hospital,on which they took him in That day.After tests, they told him he had this Dengue fever.
He became very ill,and was there for one week!Then returned home.
After about a week, he became ill again.Even though he was on medication.
He lost 7 kilo.Even now he has not fully recovered.
He said it started with a insect bite to his hand.After a while. it became inflamed.
He assumed this was the cause of the infection.
Apparently, it is the "Day" mosquito carries this disease
Hospital fee was 60,000 baht .Also more medication 4000 baht!

Many of us may be infected and deal with it in the normal course of events feeling no so good for a couple of days, then it gets better. it is the female that does the deed ( isn't it always hehe).
it can be bad maybe it is because some of us suffer from other ailments, and react, tis true you can get infected again or it lies dormant and then reoccurs, whatever it is , it can be bad, deaths are uncommon BUT not unkown.
Simple answer do not have fresh water in side the house, even watering plants can provide the neccesary home for these chappies. Fish aquariuns OK a the fish eat the eggs normally, but not 100%.
All in all a nasty bug that can cause great suffering

Dengue outbreak hits Bangkok , 48 dead so far
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on August 1, 2008


Dengue fever has spread across the country, killing 48 people and infecting more than 40,000 so far this year, Public Health Minister Wicharn Meenchainant said yesterday.


Up to last Saturday, 41,307 patients have been diagnosed nationwide with dengue haemorrhagic fever and Bangkok was the hardest hit with 3,763 patients, according to the Disease Control Department's Bureau of Epidemiology.


Ratchaburi suffered the second worst outbreak with 1,710 victims, followed by Nakhon Sawan with 1,582, Phetchabun with 1,304 and Rayong with 1,291.


Vichan said the risk of catching dengue fever from mosquitoes this year was running high compared to last year, which saw 29 fatalities out of 60,000 cases.


The ministry's report identifies four strains. This year's seasonal epidemic was blamed on type 2, while last year type 1 was virulent.


People could hypothetically get infected by each of the four dengue strains separately in their lifetime.


Permanent secretary Prat Bunyawongwiroj said this year type 2 was more dangerous to humans as it was more resistant to the immune system.


Vichan has ordered provincial public health offices to strictly control and monitor the transmission of dengue fever among people in the local area.


Local authorities should spray insecticide to eradicate the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito, which bites humans in the daytime.


Residents should drain off any stagnant water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and use abates sand, a pesticide, to destroy their larvae.


WARNING
Well says it all, it is here, be very careful gentlemen and ladies, take precautions. Even spea to your neighbours who may not be as clean as yourselves, clear stagnant water.

This is a first hand (mine) story. At the end of July one evening I got shocked when looking in the mirror. My body looked like I had got a sunburn - but I had not been out in the sun. Then while showering I got heavy shivering, so I went to bed.

Next day I had about 38.6 fever, felt very powerless. Second day same. Can not eat. Everything tastes wrong. As this is very unusual for me (I am a fit person and healthy) I went to AEK and got urine and blood checked. The doctor did not find anything, ordered me to eat tons of Paracetamol to lower the fever and come back after a few days to check for Dengue fever.

My state continued like before. I felt so weak and could not see correctly (means not work on the computer), moving made me feel dizzy. The fever stayed and did not want to go away.

Finally on the seventh day the fever was gone. Well, that was the day I had to fly to Germany, so I did. On arrival went to the doctor immediately to check again. The doctor looked at me and said: what kind of allergy have you got? My skin had small swellings everywhere and still was red, looking a little bit like sunburn. And yes, they found Dengue fever in my blood, first a little (it needs about 5 days to be able to be detected), then after two weeks my blood was full of antibodies.

My blood tests also showed horribly wrong liver values. There is no explanation for this, as I don't drink (and smoke), and usually Dengue is not related to liver problems. So I got some more examinations, but nothing was found. After 4 weeks the liver values returned to normal.

You can find all information about Dengue fever in Wikipedia. The symptoms described there for the first infection are much more severe than what I had, but this may be just because my overall constitution is quite good. The real problem comes with (mentioned above) the four strains. I am now immune against one strain of Dengue. But when infected with a different one (see above, maybe next year...), the fever is no normal fever anymore. The reaction of the body is even worse, giving you the so called haemorrhagic fever. This one breaks the cell walls and causes inner bloodings. The death rate is 30%! To survive this you must be sure to have a good constitution and stay in the hospital all time. Somewhat scares me...

Just to add: I have no clue where I had been infected. I was going around in Udon at that time from east to west, and the incubation time is 2 or 3 days, so I really have no clue. But my wife told me that a baby in one of the neighbour houses got Dengue too. Maybe I got it simply at home (which is First home).