Hospital pricing, the insurance a long-stay visa requires, what social security covers for a foreign worker, and the outbreak and air quality warnings that decide whether this week needs a clinic or a mask. Health announcements come from several agencies at once, so we cluster the Thai and English reporting into one story per development, several times a day.
Thailand's Department of Disease Control has warned farmers, people with diabetes, and residents in flood-prone areas about melioidosis (soil fever) after reporting 3,102 cases and 136 deaths nationwide this year. The bacteria, found in soil and water, can cause severe illness; symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Those who develop a high fever lasting two days or more after contact with soil or water should seek immediate medical attention.
The Thai Cabinet approved new reimbursement rules for critical emergency patients, revoking the special COVID-19 UCEP regulations. The changes reintegrate COVID-19 patients into the standard emergency care system.
Thailand's National Food Institute tested five raw enoki mushroom samples from Bangkok shops and found Listeria monocytogenes in every sample. The bacteria can cause listeriosis, a serious infection for pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Ratchaburi's provincial health doctor warns that people exposed to prolonged floodwater should watch for fever or calf pain, signs of leptospirosis. Those with cuts on feet are at higher risk. Anyone with symptoms should seek immediate medical care and inform the doctor of floodwater exposure.
The Social Security Office has issued new medical service rates for tuberculosis screening and drug-resistant TB treatment for non-Thai insured persons, effective immediately. The rates replace the previous 2023 schedule and specified detailed costs for various drug regimens.
The Department of Disease Control warns of increased leptospirosis risk due to flooding, with 3,303 cases and 46 deaths nationwide in 2026. Expats in affected areas should avoid walking in floodwater, wear protective footwear, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms like fever or muscle pain develop after exposure.
Thailand's health officials warn expats and locals to avoid collecting or eating unknown wild mushrooms this rainy season, as poisonous varieties resemble edible ones and have caused 335 poisonings and one death in northeastern Thailand since January. Do not rely on shape, color, past experience, or traditional tests; cooking does not remove all toxins. Seek medical help immediately if symptoms develop and call the hotline at 1422.
The Ministry of Public Health has revoked the designation of Uganda as a dangerous communicable disease zone for Ebola, effective 19 September 2026. This follows the World Health Organization's declaration that Uganda is Ebola-free as of 27 August 2026. Expats traveling from Uganda to Thailand will no longer be subject to the previous health screening requirements.