Health

Coronavirus / covid-19Excursions - VenuesHealthHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLao EconomyLatest NewsThailandTourismTransportation - VehiclesTravel & Tourism

Lockdown Eased, But Thailand Remains Closed To Foreign Tourists For Another Month

Though Thailand will allow some businesses to reopen from Friday (May 1), the country is still not ready to welcome foreign tourists, say government officials.

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Coronavirus / covid-19EducationGovernmentHealthLao EconomyLatest News

Schools Expected To Reopen On May 11 Under Close Supervision

State and private kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and tertiary education institutions along with sporting activities, are expected to reopen on May 11 amid strict measures.

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BusinessCoronavirus / covid-19GovernmentHealthLao EconomyLatest News

PM Extends Restrictions For Virus Control, Some Eased To Minimise Economic Impact

The prime minister told the cabinet to remain tough in enforcing his Order No. 6 which imposes tougher prevention and control measures, and measures imposed by the relevant authorities.

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BusinessCoronavirus / covid-19Finance - Banking - MoneyGovernmentHealthInvestmentsLao EconomyLatest News

Factories, Businesses To Operate Amid Lockdown

Factories and businesses at the heart of the Lao economy will be able to resume their operations amid the extended lockdown ordered by the Prime Minister to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Coronavirus / covid-19EducationGovernmentHealthLao EconomyLatest News

Schools, Centres Of Higher Education To Remain Closed

The Ministry of Education and Sports announced on Friday that all schools and tertiary centres of education will remain closed from April 22 to May 3 as part of government efforts to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.

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Coronavirus / covid-19FoodGovernmentHealthLao EconomyLatest NewsMarkets

Vientiane Focuses On Food Security Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Authorities in Vientiane have taken steps to ensure food security amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, which has resulted in problems in transporting agricultural products from other provinces.

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Coronavirus / covid-19GovernmentHealthLatest News

No Covid-19 Cases For Two Consecutive Days

The National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Friday reported there had been no more reported cases of Covid-19 for two days, with the total number of confirmed cases remaining stable at 10.

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Coronavirus / covid-19Excursions - VenuesGovernmentHealthHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLao EconomyLatest NewsTourismTransportation - VehiclesTravel & TourismVietnam

Northern Laos Province Closes 10 Border Crossings With Vietnam

Authorities in northern Laos’ Huaphan province on Sunday (March 15) called for the temporary closure of 10 traditional border crossings with Vietnam

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Coronavirus / covid-19CultureEventsExcursions - VenuesFestivalsGovernmentHealthHotels, Guesthouse & ResortsLao EconomyLatest NewsLuang PrabangTourismTravel & Tourism

Laos Cancels Public Events Including Lao New Year Celebrations on COVID-19 Fears

Authorities in Laos are urging the public to suspend or postpone all “unnecessary” social events including weddings and Lao New Year celebrations in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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Expat RescourcesHealthLifestyle

Fitness Gyms in Vientiane

If you’re thinking about getting on that workout grind, congratulations—from taking care of your mental health to getting better sleep to keeping your heart healthy, there are a ton of reasons to make working out a part of your life.

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HealthHospitals & ClinicsMosquito

Asia Is Unprepared For The Next Flu Outbreak

Epidemics and outbreaks happen very quickly – anywhere and without warning. While advancements in science have equipped us to better handle the flu, Asia’s continued growth in recent years and lack of sufficient infrastructure have made it difficult to handle large scale outbreaks, cope with hospitalisation numbers and contain transmission between individuals. These factors have made it easier for viruses to spread within local communities and across the region, putting everyone at risk.

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Health

J&C Services Launches Ground-Breaking Health & Life Insurance

J&C Services together with Lane Xang Assurance (LAP) just launched a new groundbreaking Health & Life Insurance, called J&C Elite Care. “It’s the first health & life insurance product with a comprehensive cover up to US$ 100’000 which is available for Lao citizens and Expats living in Laos” says Mr. Stephan Aeschbach, owner of J&C Services.

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Health

Localised Thunderstorm Alert Issued Ahead Of Weekend

People across all parts of the country should be on alert for summer thunderstorms and pay close attention to weather forecasts as hot weather and storm risk intensifies.
A moderate high pressure system emanating from southern China will cover all parts of Laos and gusty westerly and easterly winds are set to prevail over the country, which are expected to cause outbreaks of summer thunderstorms from Saturday to ……

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Health

Melioidosis: Thailand’s Unknown Deadly Disease

Thailand’s third most-deadly infectious disease kills 40 percent of those infected, but very few have ever heard of it. By the time Bunsri Mamak, 50, arrived at Sappasit Prasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani city in Thailand’s northeast, he was delirious and a very sick man. He had spent several weeks visiting local clinics and hospitals trying to find out what was wrong with him when he ….

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Health

Reminder: Importation of E-Cigarettes and Refills Into Thailand Is Illegal

People should be careful about vaping in Thailand. While using e-cigs them selves are not illegal, it is illegal to import e-cigs and e-liquids and you could face up to 5 years in prison for possession and up to 10 year for production and sale and a fine of five times the value of the goods or both.
Apparently there is ‘NO’ law banning the ….

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Health

Vientiane Dengue Fever Rates Higher This Year

Health authorities in the capital have admitted that the outbreak of dengue fever is higher this year compared to the same period in 2016.
From January 1-24 this year, 70 dengue fever infections have been recorded in Vientiane, while in the same period last year there were no reports of any outbreaks. The news comes with 12 out of 18 provinces in the country reporting dengue fever at alarming epidemic levels though …..

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HealthMosquitoThailand

Bangkok Hospital Starts Offering Dengue Vaccine

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital in Bangkok has introduced the vaccine against four strains of the dengue virus, making it the first facility in Thailand to offer immunisation against the mosquito-borne disease.
Dr. On-umar Banpamai, an infectious diseases specialist at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, said at a briefing the vaccine against the dengue virus had been studied and developed for decades. It has also been tested in ….

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Health

Laos Joins Race Against The Clock To Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance

Laos and other countries around the world have pledged to take immediate action to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
WHO Representative to Laos Dr Juliet Fleischl emphasised the urgency of the issue this week, saying “We are beginning to see cases of resistance to antibiotics of last resort being reported in many countries. If we do not address antimicrobial resistance now, doctors and nurses will be empty-handed against a growing number of ….

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HealthLao Economy

Poverty Reduction Slows

Poverty reduction has slowed a little but the government will strive to reduce the number of poor families from 6.56 percent in 2016 down to 6.09 percent by 2017, the government has told the National Assembly.
There are four main reasons for the slower rate of poverty reduction, Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Souphanh Keomixay told the ongoing ordinary session of parliament when he presented a …..

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HealthMosquitoThailand

First Two Zika-Infected Babies Born With Microcephaly: Thailand

Thailand has reported its first two cases of Zika-infected babies with microcephaly, or babies born with abnormally small heads, as health authorities urge pregnant women to avoid mosquito bites and unprotected sex to prevent infection.
Meanwhile, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention added another 11 countries to its list where pregnant women …

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Ambulance ServiceHealth

Vientiane Rescue Passes On Prized Award To The People Of Laos

Vientiane Rescue 1623, under the Foundation for Assisting Poor People of the Lao PDR, presented the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2016 to the Lao people, after receiving the award in Manila, the Philippines, last month.
A press conference was held at the Vientiane Center on Sunday to honour the recipients and officially hand over the …

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Ambulance ServiceFestivals

Vientiane Rescue Prepares For Boat Racing Festival

Over 20 volunteers from Vientiane Rescue 1623 are performing drills to assist anyone in the water in preparation for this year’s boat racing festival in the capital next month.
Vat Chan Festival is the largest boat racing competition in Laos and takes place annually the day after Buddhist Lent ends. This year’s festival falls on October 17.
A senior officer with Vientiane Rescue 1623 under ….

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Health

Unwanted Pregnancies Ranks As Top Issue Among Vientiane Youth

The problem of unwanted pregnancies is rated among the top issues at the Vientiane Youth Centre for Health and Development when it comes to evaluating the increased numbers of people who visit the centre to receive advice and treatment, a director confirmed recently
The most common reason for young people to visit is to consult on problems of unwanted pregnancies, with the second most common reason being …

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HealthMosquito

No Zika Cases Detected In Laos

Health officials are keeping a close eye on the potential for Zika virus to spread to Laos after a number of cases have been reported in some ASEAN countries, including Singapore and neighbouring Thailand.
A health official in Vientiane told Vientiane Times on Thursday that so far this year Laos has yet to find any persons infected with Zika virus.
“But there is a risk of infection if ….

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Health

“Ya Ice” Users Are On The Rise, Sources Say

Methamphetamine use is on the rise in the country due to the foreigners, including those from neighbouring countries, using the drug when they come to visit or work, according to the police.
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in Southeast Asia include drugs such as methamphetamine which is also known as “crystal meth” or just “ice” or “ya ice” in the region.
A police official from the Ministry of Public Security told Vientiane Times that …..

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Ambulance ServiceHealth

Vientiane Rescuers Win Magsaysay Award

Vientiane Rescue 1623, a humanitarian group formed by volunteers to save lives in the Lao capital, is among the six recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, regarded as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
Vientiane Rescue was set up in 2007 to provide first-aid services for free on roads in the Lao capital. Those behind it are a small team of students and ordinary people who began …..

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HealthVietnam

Ministry, WHO Announce Outbreak Of Hepatitis A in Xieng Khuang

The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation in Laos jointly held a press conference last week to put an end to the rumours concerning the so-called “new mystery disease” that had been circulating on social media.
Many people received updates on Facebook concerning an unidentified illness that struck down about 60 people in Xieng Khuang province this week, causing widespread concern and speculation about this “new” disease.
Speaking at the press conference …..

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Health

Tobacco Companies To Display Graphic Health Warnings On Cigarette Packets

The government will soon require tobacco companies to display graphic health warnings on cigarette packets in the hope of reducing the number of deaths from smoking-related illnesses.
Tobacco companies will need to display these warnings relaying information on the dangers of smoking by October of this year.
Laos is still finding it difficult to implement health and legal policies to further reduce smoking in the country due to the …..

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HealthHospitals & Clinics

Watch Out For Pink Eye In The Wet Season

At this time of year you may notice friends and family members with at least one pink eye. This isn’t a colourful contact lens, it’s Conjunctivitis, an eye infection that commonly occurs during the rainy season when bacteria thrives.

While both bacteria and viruses cause conjunctivitis, the Ophthalmology Centre in Vientiane has found that bacteria are almost always the cause of the cases it encounters.

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HealthMosquitoThailand

Zika Virus Alert In Udon Thani’s Sangkhom District

Udon Thani’s Sangkhom district has been declared off-limits especially to pregnant women after a resident of the district was quarantined in Taiwan after he was tested to be infected with Zika virus.
Health volunteers in all villages in Tambon Sang Nang Khao of Nong Khai’s Pone Pisai district were instructed to mount a campaign to …

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Ambulance ServiceFirst AidHealthHospitals & Clinics

“An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”

Seeing this picture of someone from Vientiane on social media, I couldn’t help but think of this old saying. “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”
Seeing all the unsafe thing that people do in this country makes me cringe.
As a former Medic it always made me sad to look at my patient on the stretcher and think of the ….

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FoodHealth

Banana Plantation Study In Laos Shows Negative Impacts

The negative impacts from banana plantations in Laos could be outweighing the benefits.
Despite the fact that banana plantation investments have created job opportunities for local people, reduced labour migration, contributed to social activities and improved infrastructure they are also having negative impacts on people’s health and the environment.
The findings were outlined in a study undertaken by the institute in cooperation with the National University of Laos …..

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Ambulance ServiceHealthInsuranceRules and LawSecurity

Vientiane Rescue: The Deadly Streets Of Laos

In the blinding glare of headlights, the traffic keeps coming. Motorbikes swerve dangerously, cars drive down the wrong side of the road – it’s Friday night in Vientiane, the busiest night of the week on the Laotian capital’s roads.
With the country’s economy booming, more people in Laos can afford motorbikes and cars than ever before – and they drive ….

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