#HealthSecurity

A global chikungunya surge in 2025 has exposed how quickly a mosquito-borne outbreak can strain health systems. In Guangdong, China, authorities implemented aggressive measures—drone surveillance, standing-water fines, and early isolation—to curb transmission. These actions offer crucial lessons for Thailand, where Aedes vectors and tourism-driven communities heighten vulnerability to imported and local transmission.

Chikungunya rarely proves fatal, but its hallmark is sudden, debilitating joint pain that can linger for months. With Aedes mosquitoes sharing the same habitats that spread dengue and Zika, Thailand faces meaningful public health and economic risks if the virus takes root. Thai health authorities, travelers, and communities must act now to strengthen prevention, surveillance, and care.

A sweeping new international study has found that emergency vaccination programmes launched to counter outbreaks of Ebola, measles, cholera, yellow fever, and meningitis have slashed global deaths and infections from these deadly diseases by nearly 60% over the last 23 years. Researchers say the impact does not stop with lives saved—swift vaccine deployment has yielded economic savings estimated at billions of dollars, marking vaccines as not only a public health triumph but also a cost-effective shield against disruptive epidemics (BBC News).

A major international study finds that rapid vaccination responses to outbreaks of Ebola, measles, cholera, yellow fever, and meningitis have cut global deaths and infections by about 60% over 23 years. Beyond saving lives, swift campaigns also prevent disruptions to health systems and protect economic productivity in communities.

The analysis spans 210 outbreak responses across 49 countries from 2000 through 2023. It shows that fast vaccine deployment not only reduces transmission and fatalities but also prevents subsequent waves that strain health services. Thailand, with substantial vaccination investments, can draw important lessons for dengue, measles, and emerging health threats.

Across Thailand’s hills and sacred forests, the red-hearted wood known as Chandan Daeng (Dracaena loureiroi) has long stood at the crossroads of culture and healing. The heartwood’s deep crimson colors Buddhist altars and crafts, while traditional uses symbolize vitality, protection, and wellness. As global interest in herbal remedies grows, Chandan Daeng invites a closer look at how ancient wisdom and scientific inquiry intersect for Thai readers.

Communities have long valued Chandan Daeng for supporting blood circulation, easing pain, and speeding wound healing. In regional languages, its name echoes in healing chants and village lore. Legends speak of monks discovering its power after fungal transformation, portraying the wood as a bridge between earth and spirit. Today, researchers explore whether this vivid heartwood offers more than symbolism, examining its chemistry for evidence-based benefits.

Across the winding hills and sacred forests of Thailand, few plants carry a legacy as rich as จันทน์แดง (Chandan Daeng), known botanically as Dracaena loureiroi. The deep red core of its wood, prized for generations, has not only painted the color palette of Buddhist altars and traditional handicrafts, but also infused traditional Thai medicine (TTM) with a symbol of vitality, healing, and spiritual protection. As global interest in herbal medicine surges, Chandan Daeng stands at the powerful intersection of cultural reverence and science-backed discovery, inviting both renewed appreciation and critical questions about its role in modern wellness.