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DMSc-TB FastAmp (TB-LAMP) kit (Photo: AEC Healthcare) Bangkok (VNA) - The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) under the Thai Ministry of Public Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AEC Healthcare on the transfer of DMSc-TB FastAmp (TB-LAMP) kit production technology, aiming to support tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control. DMS chief Dr Supakit Sirilak said there are at least 150 new cases of TB detected per 100,000 people every year in Thailand , citing data collected by the Department of Disease Control. This means over 105,000 new cases are found annually in the country, he noted. A fast and accurate diagnosis method can be helpful. However, the price can exceed 300 baht (8.76 USD), higher than the 200-baht subsidy provided by the National Health Security Office. Therefore, the development of the TB-LAMP kit can improve diagnosis and affordability. The kit can detect bacteria that cause TB by analysing samples using the loop mediated isothermal … [Read more...] about Thailand to produce tuberculosis test kit

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai officials announced that they had found a cylinder of Caesium-137 that went missing from a power plant in Sri Maha Pho district at a steel foundry in Prachinburi province, 150km east of Bangkok, reported The Nation newspaper. Ronnarong Nakornjinda, Governor of Prachinburi province, said that during the inspection of steel factories in the province on March 19, officials detected readings of radioactivity at the province’s largest steel foundry, in Kabin Buri district. The readings came from scrap metal that had been compressed into cubes ready to be smelted. Officials ordered the foundry to halt operations and all employees were asked to leave the facility. A perimeter has been set up to bar access to outsiders. An initial investigation of smelted material at the foundry found traces of Caesium-137 , he said. According to Ronnarong, Caesium-137 has a half-life of about 30 years and remains in the environment for 300 years. He warned that touching … [Read more...] about Thailand: Missing radioactive cylinder found

BANGKOK -- Seven storeys above a shopfloor hawking cheap perfume and nylon underwear, Thailand's "shopping mall gorilla" sits alone in a cage -- her home for 30 years despite a re-ignited row over her captivity. Activists around the world have long campaigned for the primate to be moved from Pata Zoo, located on top of a Bangkok mall, with singer Cher and actor Gillian Anderson adding their voices in 2020. But the family who owns Bua Noi -- whose name translates as "little lotus" -- have resisted public and government pressure to relinquish the critically endangered animal. The gorilla has lived at Pata for more than three decades but her case made headlines again this month after the zoo offered a 100,000 baht ($2,800) reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever graffitied "Free Bua Noi!" on one of the mall's walls. The upset comes as Thailand welcomes back tourists after the pandemic, many drawn to the kingdom's wildlife -- and ease of access. The zoo … [Read more...] about No freedom on the horizon for Bangkok ‘mall gorilla’

Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has called for the adoption of the ASEAN Quick Response (QR) Code by all ASEAN countries at the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting. The transactions carried out via ASEAN QR Code will use local currencies, KADIN Chaiman Arsjad Rasjid said after chairing the ASEAN-BAC meeting in Magelang district, Central Java of Indonesia, on March 22. He said that if a transaction is conducted in Indonesia, it will use the rupiah. Likewise, if it is conducted in Thailand, it will use the Thai baht, and so on, he explained. The QR code adoption will also reduce the cost of transactions, thus it can be the key for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and bigger business players in ASEAN to collaborate, he said. The ASEAN QR Code is one of the comprehensive legacy programs promoted by KADIN as a solution to strengthen digital transformation in ASEAN, which is one of the five ASEAN-BAC priority … [Read more...] about Indonesia hastens ASEAN’s adoption of regional QR Code

Illustrative image (Photo: Bangkokpost) Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce’s Internal Trade Department (ITD) is implementing 22 measures to manage fruit supply for this year's harvest, with production estimated to grow by 3% to 6.78 million tonnes. Director-general of the department Wattanasak Sur-iam said the higher output is attributed to cooler weather late last year and early this year. The department remains concerned about the quality of fruit and held discussions with the Agriculture Department about introducing stringent measures to control the quality of exports, especially durian, he said. The ITD also wants to register at least 120,000 orchards for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards this year. Wattanasak said the 22 measures are focused on four areas, covering plans for production, domestic marketing, foreign marketing, and legal issues. The Ministry of Commerce and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry also plan to coordinate with … [Read more...] about Thailand tightens fruit quality management