Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Air Pollution
Bangkok has a bad reputation for air pollution, and on bad days the combination of heat, dust and motor fumes can be a
powerful brew of potentially toxic air. The good news is that more-efficient vehicles (and fewer of them thanks to the
BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro), and less industrial pollution mean Bangkok's skies are much cleaner than they used to
be.
Flu
Thailand has seen a number of nasty influenza strains in recent years, most notably the bird (H5N1) and swine (H1N1)
varieties. That said, it's no worse than any other country in the region and is probably better prepared than most of the
world for any major outbreak because the government has stockpiled tens of millions of Tamiflu doses.
Food
If a place looks clean and well run and the vendor also looks clean and healthy, then the food is probably safe. In gener-
al, the food in busy restaurants is cooked and eaten quite quickly with little standing around, and is probably not re-
heated. The same applies to street stalls.
Heat
By the standards of most visitors Bangkok is somewhere between hot and seriously (expletive) hot all year round. Usu-
ally that will mean nothing more than sweat-soaked clothing, discomfort and excessive tiredness. However, heat exhaus-
tion is not uncommon, and dehydration is the main contributor. Symptoms include feeling weak, headache, irritability,
nausea or vomiting, sweaty skin, a fast, weak pulse and a normal or slightly elevated body temperature. Treatment in-
volves getting out of the heat and/or sun and cooling the victim down by fanning and applying cool, wet cloths to the
skin, laying the victim flat with their legs raised and rehydrating with electrolyte drinks or water containing a quarter
teaspoon of salt per litre. Heatstroke is more serious and requires more urgent action. Symptoms come on suddenly and
include weakness, nausea, a hot, dry body with a temperature of more than 41°C, dizziness, confusion, loss of coordina-
tion, seizures and, eventually, collapse and loss of consciousness. Seek medical help and begin cooling by getting the
victim out of the heat, removing their clothes, fanning them and applying cool, wet cloths or ice to their body, especially
to the groin and armpits.
HIV & AIDS
In Thailand around 95% of HIV transmission occurs through sexual activity, and the remainder through natal transmis-
sion or illicit intravenous drug use. HIV/AIDS can also be spread through infected blood transfusions, although this risk
is virtually nil in Thailand due to rigorous blood-screening procedures. If you want to be pierced or tattooed, be sure to
check that the needles are new.
Water & Ice
Don't drink tap water, but do remember that all water served in restaurants or to guests in offices or homes in Bangkok
comes from purified sources. It's not necessary to ask for bottled water in these places unless you prefer it. Ice is gener-
ally produced from purified water under hygienic conditions and is therefore theoretically safe.
