Four liver fluke parasite infections confirmed among Maha Sarakham University students

Only four cases of liver fluke parasite infection have been confirmed among Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University freshmen, out of 309 stool samples were examinations using the Kato-Katz technique. There are also four cases of intestinal parasites infection, five tape worm cases worm, two cases of thread worm and one case of whip worm, according to Dr. Wichan Bhunyakitikorn, director of the Division of Epidemiology of the Department of Disease Control.

Earlier, a total of 4,322 freshmen at the university tested positive for liver fluke parasites using rapid urine strip tests, triggering the health alarm that lead to the Department of Disease Control suspending the stool examinations.

Dr. Wichan said the small number of liver fluke cases found is a clear indication that the infection is not at the level of an epidemic, adding that the parasites do not spread from humans to humans but through the eating of raw or uncooked fresh-water fish.

He also said an initial investigation shows that the infected students come from different locations and there is no connection with the food shops in Maha Sarakham as previously suspected.

Liver fluke infections in Thailand have declined steadily, from 16.2% of the tested samples in 2016 to 2.5% last year. Most cases were found in Phayao, Phrae, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan and Chaiyaphum provinces.