BANGKOK, 7 Dec 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has stepped up surveillance measures against chickenpox, which has reportedly intensified during winter.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, chickenpox has now sickened nearly 80,000 people or 244 daily and caused one death. The number of patients this year has risen by 37 percent compared to the same period last year. People needing extra surveillance are children aged under one and those with underlying or chronic diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes, since these groups of people are likely to suffer more severe symptoms than ordinary people.

Read more: NNT