The Korat Public Health Office has reported patients with "Suid Fever" in Korat totaling 93 cases with 13 deaths, and has warned that during New Year celebrations, cooked pork must be served with separate utensils.
On 31 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Dr. Wichan Khidnuean, Director of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Public Health Office, posted a warning on the Facebook page "Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Public Health Office" stating that Korat ranks first in the country for Suid Fever cases. Data from the Disease Control Group, Nakhon Ratchasima Public Health Office, reports that from 1 Jan to 30 Dec 2025 GMT+7, there have been 93 cumulative cases of Suid Fever with 13 deaths.
This disease is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus suis, which resides in the respiratory tract and blood of sick pigs. It can be transmitted in two ways: 1. Consuming pork and blood that is raw or partially cooked, 2. Contact with infected pigs, including pork meat, offal, and blood, through wounds, scratches on the body, mucous membranes, or contact with blood from sick pigs. After infection, symptoms appear within 1-14 days and include high fever, severe headache, dizziness causing loss of balance, vomiting, and stiff neck.
Currently, some people have become ill or died from Suid Fever after consuming raw or partially cooked pork. Other high-risk foods include raw blood spicy salad (larb), raw spicy minced pork (koi), and fermented raw pork (naem). Cooks and food preparers with wounds who handle raw pork or blood contaminated with the bacteria are also at risk of infection.
Therefore, the Nakhon Ratchasima Public Health Office emphasizes to the public during the year-end and New Year 2026 festivities that prevention is possible as follows:
1. Do not consume raw or partially cooked pork, blood, or offal.
2. Separate utensils such as cutting boards and knives for raw pork and vegetables.
3. Purchase pork only from shops that meet quality standards.
4. When eating Korean BBQ or similar meals, use separate chopsticks for raw pork and cooked food.
5. Those working with pigs should immediately shower and thoroughly clean their bodies after handling pigs.