Study of the Deaths in Long District, Prae Province

Abstract

On July 1 3, 1993, newspapers reported that unusual deaths among the elderly in Long District, Prae Province. Between July 14 and 15,1993, an epidemiological investigation was conducted in order to verify the event and to find out the causes of death. Data were collected from death certificates, medical records and interviewing family members of the deceased. The investigation showed thatthere were 15 deaths from July 1— 15, 1993, with 9 males and 6 females. The age range was 27 - 85 years old (X = 61.4 ⁺_- 15.9). The highest number of deaths (6) were in Huay - oa subdistrict. Information from the death certificates showed that 6 died from non-specific causes. 4 from heart failure, 2 from carcinoma, 1 from pyrexia and 1 from an unspecified accident. There was one unknown cause of death. The investigation showed no difference in the average number 0f deaths, age, sex and causes of death between the period of July 1 - 15, and those of the first six months of 1993. Comparing the cumulative number for the year 1993 and 1992, there was some  statistical difference in the causes of death: heart failure, kidney disease, homicide and suicide.