Over 4,000 new students at Mahasarakham University have tested positive for liver fluke infection. The governor has ordered the Provincial Public Health Office to promptly inspect som tum and other food shops after discovering that young people favor fermented fish sauce that may be contaminated with parasites.
At 14:00 on 6 July 2026, in the conference room of the Mahasarakham Provincial Hall, Mr. Chumpit Decharat, Governor of Mahasarakham Province, chaired a meeting to discuss organizing an event. "New Generation Isan People Free from Liver Fluke and Bile Duct Cancer" Dr. Danai Wangboonchai, Manager of the Health Promotion Media Arts Program at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), and Associate Professor Dr. Nittaya Wannakit, Vice President for Student Development and Organizational Image at Mahasarakham University, along with officials from the Mahasarakham Provincial Public Health Office, attended the meeting to consult on organizing activities.
Today, Mr. Suksan Sirisuriyasunthorn, Head of the Communicable Disease Control Unit at the Mahasarakham Provincial Public Health Office, presented the situation. He reported on the spread of liver fluke infection in Mahasarakham Province. Screening of 20,000 local residents found an infection rate of approximately 11%.
Meanwhile, screening of new students enrolled in the 2026 academic year found that among more than 12,700 new students at Mahasarakham University, 4,233 were infected, a 33% rate. At Mahasarakham Rajabhat University, 380 out of 1,922 new students tested positive, a 19% infection rate.
Governor Chumpit Decharat instructed the Mahasarakham Provincial Public Health Office to urgently implement measures to address this issue after finding that young people tend to eat som tum containing fermented fish sauce (pla ra), which may not have been inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The raw or uncertified fermented fish sauce may be contaminated with parasite eggs, leading to liver fluke infection. If left unchecked, these youths could develop bile duct cancer in 15-20 years, harming the nation's future.
Additionally, vendors of som tum and other restaurants using fermented fish sauce will be invited to attend training at the 'New Generation Isan People Free from Liver Fluke and Bile Duct Cancer' event scheduled for 3 August.
"This is a serious issue that cannot be ignored, as screening data shows a high rate of liver fluke infection among students. We must identify the source of infection, which is linked to food consumption.
If raw fermented fish sauce is the cause, measures must be taken to ensure its production meets hygiene standards and that it is properly cooked to eliminate parasites. The Provincial Public Health Office will inspect restaurants, especially som tum shops, to educate vendors. Shops using cooked fermented fish sauce will receive a "This shop uses safe cooked fermented fish sauce" sign to provide safer choices for students and the public, especially for som tum shops using cooked pla ra."
Meanwhile, the Mahasarakham Provincial Public Health Office's chief medical officer will hold a press conference tomorrow.