On May 8, 2025, Dr. Monton Khanasawat, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health, disclosed that the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on May 7 confirmed cases of Hantavirus infection linked to a cruise ship operating in the South Atlantic Ocean, with three reported deaths. WHO assessed the risk to the general public as low. The incident garnered international attention due to its connection to international travel and reports of human-to-human transmission in certain cases, prompting close monitoring in multiple countries.

Dr. Monton explained that Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, with rats and certain rodents serving as natural reservoirs. Most people become infected by inhaling aerosolized particles contaminated with rodent urine, feces, or saliva, particularly in poorly ventilated areas such as storage rooms, warehouses, or abandoned buildings. However, this disease does not spread as easily as COVID-19 or influenza, as infection primarily occurs through environmental exposure rather than person-to-person transmission. Human-to-human transmission has been reported only in limited areas of South America.

Dr. Monton noted that initial symptoms resemble influenza, including high fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Some cases may progress to severe symptoms such as pneumonia, shortness of breath, respiratory failure, or acute kidney failure. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) specifically carries a mortality rate of approximately 30-40 percent.

Regarding Thailand, Dr. Monton stated that there have been no reported outbreaks of this disease in the disease surveillance system. The Department of Disease Control has instructed all international disease control checkpoints to closely monitor the situation, increased surveillance of travelers from affected areas, and maintained continuous coordination with airlines, ports, and relevant agencies.

Simultaneously, all national health service units have been alerted to enhance screening and investigation for disease symptoms in patients, particularly those with exposure history to rodents or recent travel from risk areas.

Dr. Direk Khampaen, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, advised the public to avoid contact with rats and rodent secretions, maintain cleanliness of homes and workplaces, store food in airtight containers, dispose of garbage properly, and seal entry points for rodents. When cleaning areas potentially infested with rodents, ensure adequate ventilation first and use damp cloths or disinfectant when cleaning, while wearing masks and gloves to prevent airborne transmission.

Dr. Direk advised that anyone experiencing high fever, muscle aches, or unusual shortness of breath following rodent contact or travel from risk areas should seek immediate medical attention, while informing healthcare providers of their travel and exposure history for prompt diagnosis and treatment. For additional information, contact the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.

The Department of Corrections is launching a full-scale manhunt for escaped inmate Seksorn Rupthong, 37, from Thanyaburi District Prison, who fled on May 7, 2025 at approximately 10:47 AM while participating in an external vocational training program. Rupthong, convicted on assault charges, had only 23 days remaining on his sentence (scheduled release May 30, 2025) and was selected for the work-release program as a low-risk, long-term inmate preparing for reintegration. He escaped during the training session by slipping away from the prison front area, exiting through the back of the prison café, and boarding an unregistered pickup truck. Following the incident, the Department of Corrections' Special Operations Division, in coordination with Thanyaburi District Prison, police, and relevant agencies, has launched continuous pursuit and arrest operations while establishing a fact-finding committee to investigate. The Department of Corrections has instructed all subordinate units to increase vigilance to prevent similar incidents. The public is urged to report any information about the escapee to Thanyaburi District Prison at 083 074 1060, 02 577 2341, or the emergency hotline 191, available 24/7.

On May 8, 2025, at 10:30 AM, three families visited the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women to seek urgent help repatriating their sons from Malaysia. The affected children were ages 5, 11, and 12. The families explained that Buddhist monks had approached them in April 2025, requesting permission to take the children to participate in a summer ordination program in Malaysia. The monks assured them there would be no issues and that the temple had extensive experience organizing such trips.

Two monks were arrested by Malaysian police on human trafficking charges after authorities discovered a four-year pattern of deceiving Thai children. The scheme targeted children aged 5-15, some without travel documents and without parental consent. While 17 children with proper documentation have been returned to Thailand, seven children—including the 5-year-old—remain detained in Kedah state, Malaysia.

Paveena Hongsakul, foundation president, has sent urgent letters to the Malaysian embassy in Thailand and assigned Diana Foo, the foundation's foreign affairs consultant, to contact the Malaysian embassy directly for immediate assistance. The foundation is also coordinating with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the children's safe return.

Ms. Ann, 40, mother of the 5-year-old, revealed she works as an engineer in the Philippines and left her son in the care of his grandparents in Prachuap Khiri Khan. On April 2, 2025, monks from a local temple—which the grandparents regularly patronized—requested permission to take the boy to Malaysia for the summer ordination program. Despite her concerns about the lack of a passport and the child's young age, the monks assured her there would be no problems and that the temple regularly organized such trips without incident. Due to the family's trust in the monks, they granted permission.

On April 4, contact with the child was lost. On April 6, a temple student informed the family that the children were at the border waiting for documents but would cross the next day. On April 8 at 5:08 PM, the family learned that seven children without passports—including Ms. Ann's son—had been detained at the Malaysian border, along with the monks and driver, while those with passports were allowed to return to Thailand. On April 29, Ms. Ann attempted to visit her son.

Dr. Jetsada Bunyavongsirojana, Deputy Director of Primary Care at Maha Rajachachon Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, shared on Facebook as "Dr. Jed" about beverages that help the liver manage fat more effectively. He outlined 4 bedtime drinks that help clear fat from the liver.

Many people have fatty liver disease without realizing it, as there are often no early symptoms. Some only discover the problem when liver enzyme levels rise or ultrasound reveals fat accumulation. The period before sleep is particularly important because it's when the liver begins repair and processes excess energy. Choosing the right beverages can reduce inflammation and help the liver manage fat better.

The 4 recommended beverages are:

1. Warm water - Supports metabolism and circulation. Drinking one glass of warm water before bed improves blood flow, reduces blood viscosity, and helps the liver and kidneys process waste more effectively. This is especially beneficial for those who drink little water throughout the day, wake with dry mouth, or have dark urine.

2. Chamomile tea - Reduces inflammation and improves sleep. Sleep is crucial for liver recovery, as poor sleep worsens fat management. Chamomile contains no caffeine, helps the body relax, improves sleep quality, and provides antioxidants that reduce inflammation. It suits those who are stressed, have trouble sleeping, or frequently wake at night.

3. Unsweetened soy milk - Provides satiety and reduces late-night snacking. Many people get hungry before bed and reach for sweets or fried foods, worsening liver fat accumulation. Unsweetened soy milk provides protein from soybeans, keeps you full longer, reduces nighttime cravings, and contains some beneficial fats that help the body manage energy better than sugary drinks.

4. Water mixed with apple cider vinegar - In proper amounts, some research suggests apple cider vinegar may help with insulin sensitivity and reduce some fat accumulation. However, use appropriately—such as 1-2 teaspoons mixed in one glass of water—and never drink it concentrated, as it can irritate the stomach and damage tooth enamel. This is not suitable for those with acid reflux, gastritis, or stomach ulcers, as the acidity may worsen symptoms.

Beverages to avoid before bed if you don't want more fatty liver: - Milk tea, sugary drinks, and high-sugar beverages - Alcohol, which directly increases liver inflammation - Sweet coffee or high-caffeine drinks at night - Late-night snacks like fried foods and crispy snacks - Late bedtimes, which disrupt liver recovery and metabolism

In summary, no beverage can "cleanse" the liver instantly. However, choosing appropriate drinks before bed helps reduce inflammation, improves sleep, and supports better long-term fat management. Most importantly, these habits must be paired with reducing sugar, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight.

On May 8, 2025, the Democrat Party and Thai Rak Thai Party jointly announced plans to submit a petition to the Constitutional Court challenging the interpretation of the 400 billion baht emergency loan decree, arguing it violates Article 172 of the Constitution. Korn Chatikavanich stated they will submit the petition to House Speaker Sophon Saramay between May 11-12, and they have coordinated with the Proud Thai Party to join the effort pending their party meeting. He confirmed that the number of MPs signing the petition meets constitutional requirements.

Korn noted that after submission, the House Speaker should forward it to the Constitutional Court within 2-3 days, likely before parliament considers the loan next week. Regarding the petition's substance, Korn said the opposition draft highlights concerns about the loan's necessity, particularly questioning the government's claim of an urgent oil crisis when alternative solutions exist, such as reducing excise taxes and adjusting oil price calculations.

On the government's claim that the loan is needed for the half-price scheme launching June 1, Korn argued the government has other options, including using the previously proposed 440 billion baht budget transfer authorization that requires only a regular budget bill, not an emergency decree. He emphasized that if the court invalidates the decree and the half-price scheme cannot launch on schedule, that burden falls entirely on the government to manage.

Korn further criticized the government's plan to split the 400 billion baht loan into two tranches—200 billion this year and another 200 billion next year for energy transition—as evidence of unnecessary urgency. He argued that energy transition funding could be included in the 2570 fiscal budget, and splitting the loan contradicts the constitutional requirement that emergency decrees address only immediate, unavoidable necessities. "I don't oppose the government's projects, but splitting the loan across two years shows it doesn't meet constitutional urgency standards," Korn stated. "I'm concerned that unnecessary borrowing could damage fiscal discipline and economic security."

Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency announced on May 8 that it has isolated and is testing two Singaporean men, aged 67 and 65, who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions in the Netherlands, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak.

Multiple countries worldwide are tracking passengers who disembarked from the MV Hondius to prevent the spread of hantavirus. The ship's passengers who disembarked during a port call at Saint Helena, a volcanic island in the South Atlantic, on April 24, came from 12 countries, including 7 British nationals, 6 Americans, and 2 Singaporeans.

The WHO confirmed three deaths from hantavirus: a Dutch couple and one German national. There are five confirmed hantavirus infections and three suspected cases.

The Communicable Diseases Agency stated that the two Singaporean men are isolated at the National Infectious Diseases Centre. "One has mild nasal discharge but is in good overall health. The other shows no symptoms, and the risk to the general public in Singapore at this time remains low."

If hantavirus tests come back negative, the men will be isolated for 30 days from their suspected last exposure. If tests are positive, they will receive hospital treatment for monitoring and further care.

Reports indicate the two men disembarked from the MV Hondius and were on the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus patient, traveling from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, South Africa on April 25. The confirmed patient did not travel to Singapore but died in South Africa.

On the same day, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified the hantavirus outbreak at level 3 in emergency response—the lowest level of enforcement in the emergency system.