(KPL) Twelve journalists from mainstream media in the Lao PDR participated in a training programme under the theme “One Health” from January 13-17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

As part of the programme, the Lao journalists attended a seminar on producing news video clips using mobile phones (MOJO training), conducted by a professor from Germany.

The participants also visited Wat Luang Phrommawat and Wat Luang Health Promotion Hospital in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

Dr. Supaporn Wacharapluesadee, Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Disease at Chulalongkorn University, delivered a presentation on One Health surveillance of the Nipah virus in bats. She noted that approximately 8,000-10,000 bats currently reside in Chonburi Province, while Thailand as a whole is home to around 20 million bats.

Nipah virus causes encephalitis and respiratory disease, posing a serious health threat. Symptoms include fever, cough, dizziness, headache, and difficulty breathing. The infection has a high fatality rate, as there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available.

The animal-borne Nipah virus has been detected in pigs, bats, and horses in Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Singapore, with outbreaks resulting in multiple fatalities.

As part of their training, the Lao journalists also visited Mahidol University, the Center for Disease Research, and the Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok.

Dr. Pahurat Kongmuang Taisuwan, Director of the Secretariat Office of the Royal Development Projects Committee, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, briefed participants on enhancing risk communication during public health emergencies through journalist collaboration under the One Health framework.

#OneHealth#

KPL