Category: The Bangkok Post

Researchers collaborating with Biotec have found that a bacterium carried by pigs has become resistant to antibiotics and caused death in laboratory mice during experimental testing.

The number of human infections is also likely to increase, the researchers warned.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), Parichart Boueroy, a researcher from the Faculty of Public Health at Kasetsart University, said her team collected Streptococcus suis (S. suis) bacteria from infected patients to study virulence, focusing on strains found only in Thailand.

The strains are ST 233 and ST 104, which fall under the country’s dominant Serotype 2 strain, accounting for 93.4% of cases nationwide.

The bacterial sub-strains were injected into mice to test virulence.

The study found that the mortality rates of ST 233 and ST 104 in mice were 80% to 100% within 48 hours of infection due to septicaemia, a severe bloodstream infection.

Similar results were seen with S. suis Serotype 14, while S. suis Serotype 31 caused intermediate mortality after 42 hours.

Anusak Kerdsin, a leading molecular microbiologist at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Public Health, said the country’s first case of S. suis was detected in two patients living in Bangkok in 1987, followed by a cluster of 10 fatalities in Lamphun province in 2000.

Mr Anusak said that since 1987, 1,798 people have been infected with the deadly bacterial strains. The disease prevalence is around 0.97 per 100,000 population.

Mr Anusak said that consuming dishes containing raw pork is the main cause of S. suis infection in humans in Thailand.

Serotype 2 is the predominant strain causing human infections, followed by Serotype 4 (5.2%).

He also found the strains have undergone a dynamic shift over time.

The study found an association between ST1, ST104, ST233, and ST1688 and meningitis, sepsis, and infective endocarditis.

He said the study also discovered that CC233 and CC1688 are the predominant strains resistant to penicillin and ceftriaxone.

“We need further study on why the country is a major hub of S. suis,” he said.

“But at least our study will help raise awareness about the dangers of consuming raw meat. Although the bacteria is harmful to health, it can easily be destroyed by heat.”

He added the research would help pig farmers adopt a hygienic approach to farming to prevent disease transmission from animals to people.

Authorities have widened their investigation into a transnational drug network linked to Thai Airways flight attendant Meena Kondo and tightened airport screening of airline crews.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Narcotics Suppression Bureau had intensified their investigations, with police identifying several more suspects linked to the operation.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) has strengthened security, particularly for airline personnel travelling overseas. The measures include deploying more sniffer dogs, expanding the use of screening equipment and conducting random inspections of crew luggage.

Authorities are also monitoring social media pages offering parcel-carrying services to identify airline employees who may be acting as couriers.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said the measures should have little effect on ordinary travellers, whose screening procedures would remain unchanged.

Airline crews, however, were likely to face closer scrutiny because previous operational exemptions had created security gaps.

ONCB Secretary-General Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol said investigations into Ms Meena’s case and separate cannabis-smuggling operations targeting Australia and Taiwan had led to several arrests.

Those arrested included Lao and Thai nationals, couriers and people awaiting deliveries overseas. Investigators had also traced the heroin shipment to its suspected owner, who had fled Thailand, he said.

Pol Maj Suriya said the network had not been completely dismantled. The Royal Thai Police, ONCB and Department of Special Investigation were continuing efforts to identify other suspects.

Asked whether further arrests could help Ms Meena’s case, including by reducing any sentence she might face in Australia, he said Australian proceedings were independent.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court recently denied bail to Ekkawit Yongnichakul, who is accused of delivering the elephant-pattern suitcase used to conceal the heroin.

The court cited the seriousness of the alleged offences, the organised nature of the operation, the quantity of drugs involved and the risk of flight in ordering him detained pending trial.

The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) has ordered the transfer of a teacher from a prominent school in Bangkok following shocking allegations of sexual misconduct involving nearly 30 students.

A disciplinary committee has been set up to investigate, with the teacher facing the maximum penalty of dismissal or removal from government service if found guilty.

The case emerged when students and a trainee teacher, supported by the activist group Sai Mai Tong Rod, filed complaints with police.

They accused the teacher — identified as LGBTQ — of molesting students by groping their genitals during class. Victims reported that the teacher exploited his authority over grades to coerce students, leaving many traumatised. Some victims have since developed depression and suicidal thoughts.

Officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) and Obec attended the police complaint filing, pledging urgent psychological support for the victims and strict disciplinary and legal action.

Arunee Thirumchasa, assistant secretary-general of Obec, confirmed that the teacher has been reassigned to the district education office to prevent further contact with students.

Ms Arunee said that a formal disciplinary investigation is underway, with penalties ranging from dismissal to removal from service.

Meanwhile, MSDHS officials an­- nounced plans to coordinate with families to provide counselling and rehabilitation for all affected students. The programme will assess trauma levels, address anxiety and fear, and provide long-term therapy to restore mental health.

Thailand has long been recognised as one of Asia’s nightlife capitals, and nowhere embodies that spirit quite like Bangkok.

And, of course, you can always expect the unexpected when in Bangkok. Whether bed-spaced clubs or a literal drink bar made out of ice, the city’s past is full of surprises.

Some disappeared as trends changed, others fell victim to economic pressures or tragedy. Yet each left a lasting mark on Bangkok’s cultural landscape and helped shape the city’s reputation as one of the world’s most inventive destinations after dark.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Here’s a look back at Bangkok’s most revolutionary clubs from the past.

Bed Supperclub

Oh, to be a twenty-something in the early 2000s, slipping into Sukhumvit Soi 11 on a Friday night to sink into a giant white bed while an international DJ played into the early hours.

An offshoot of Amsterdam’s legendary Supperclub, Bed Supperclub opened in 2002 inside one of Bangkok’s most recognisable contemporary buildings. Designed by celebrated Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag, responsible for the design of places like Emquartier and Naka Phuket, the futuristic white structure resembled a spaceship that had landed in the middle of Sukhumvit.

Instead of traditional tables, guests reserved oversized white “beds”, turning the dance floor into a communal lounge where dining, drinking and dancing happened side by side. It’s a place straight out of the Fruitger Aero aesthetic.

Far more than a nightclub, Bed functioned as a restaurant, theatre, performance space and art gallery. Live performances, experimental theatre and international DJ sets all unfolded within the same avant-garde interior, making it one of Bangkok’s earliest truly multidisciplinary venues.

More than a decade after its closure in 2015, Bed Supperclub remains one of the city’s most iconic nightlife institutions.

Maggie Choo’s

Hidden beneath the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom, Maggie Choo’s transported visitors to a fictional 1930s Shanghai.

Designed by renowned Australian interior designer Ashley Sutton, the venue resembled a secret bank vault, complete with heavy steel doors, vintage safety deposit boxes, dark leather booths and underground tunnels. Jazz musicians performed alongside burlesque dancers and aerial acrobats, creating an atmosphere that felt more like immersive theatre than a conventional bar.

Every corner was meticulously staged, allowing guests to become part of the story rather than simply watch it unfold.

Although the original venue has undergone changes over the years, Maggie Choo’s helped establish Bangkok as a city where nightlife could be theatrical, cinematic and deeply immersive.

That said, for those who have missed Maggie Choo’s, you are still in luck. Visitors to Sing Sing Theater may recognise the same immersive design and theatrical atmosphere. That’s no coincidence – it, too, is one of Ashley Sutton’s creations.

Santika

Few venues are remembered as vividly as Santika.

Derived from the Sanskrit word for “peace” or “tranquility”, the club’s name contrasted sharply with its high-energy atmosphere. Before its closure, Santika was one of Bangkok’s largest nightlife destinations, capable of accommodating more than 1,000 guests.

Unlike many dance clubs of its era, Santika was designed around live performances. Its cavernous warehouse-like interior featured soaring ceilings, industrial steel beams, multi-level VIP balconies and an enormous concert stage where rock bands performed nightly, complemented by elaborate lighting and pyrotechnic displays.

Everything changed in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2009, when a devastating fire claimed 66 lives and injured more than 200 people. The tragedy prompted sweeping reforms to fire safety standards, occupancy regulations and licensing requirements for entertainment venues across Thailand.

Today, the site bears little resemblance to the venue that once stood there. A 24-hour KFC now occupies the location where one of Bangkok’s most infamous clubs once welcomed thousands of revellers.

In a city where temperatures rarely dipped below 30°C, Titanium Club offered something few Bangkok venues could: the chance to step into sub-zero temperatures without leaving Sukhumvit.

Located on Sukhumvit Soi 22, the club’s standout attraction was its Ice Bar – a sealed chamber maintained at around -10°C, where walls, furniture and even drinking glasses were carved from ice. Visitors were handed insulated jackets before entering, creating the surreal experience of moving from Bangkok’s tropical humidity into what felt like an Arctic freezer.

Large viewing windows overlooked the club’s main stage below, where the all-female house band Unicorn performed nightly, allowing guests to enjoy live music while sipping vodka served in frozen glasses.

Mischa Cheap (Khao San Road)

Of all the venues on this list, Mischa Cheap is the newest – and perhaps the one still freshest in Bangkok’s collective memory.

Located on Khao San Road, the club rejected the area’s backpacker cliché in favour of an underground aesthetic that blended indie music, fashion, contemporary art and alternative nightlife.

Its eclectic interiors regularly transformed through collaborations with artists and designers, while its playlists moved effortlessly between disco, indie rock, house and left-field electronic music.

Rather than chasing mainstream trends, Mischa Cheap cultivated a loyal creative community of musicians, artists, designers and young Bangkokians looking for something different.

The venue was co-founded by Pongsuang “Note” Chup, the influential figure behind Dudesweet, the underground party collective that has helped shape Bangkok’s independent music and creative scene since the early 2000s.

When the Khao San branch closed in January 2024, many feared the end of one of Bangkok’s most distinctive nightlife spaces. Instead, Mischa Cheap relocated to Song Wat, joining the historic riverside neighbourhood’s growing creative revival while preserving the community that made the original venue so beloved.

Thai health authorities will retain stool examinations as the standard test for liver fluke infection after follow-up tests confirmed only four infections among 292 university students who had initially tested positive using a new urine screening kit, raising questions about the test’s performance in a real-world setting.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Tuesday that the World Health Organization recommends stool examination as the definitive diagnostic method, so Thailand will continue to use it while experts develop guidelines on the appropriate use of the urine-based screening kit.

Dr Niti Haetanurak, the department’s deputy director-general, said 380 Mahasarakham University students who initially tested positive on a urine test were selected for follow-up.

So far, 292 have completed stool examinations, with only four confirmed to have liver fluke infections. Another 11 were found to be infected with other parasites, including tapeworms.

Health inspections were subsequently ordered for all somtam shops near the Mahasarakham and Rajabhat Maha Sarakham universities, and also restaurants that use pla ra, or Isan fermented fish, in their dishes

The findings were discussed at a meeting of the National Communicable Diseases Committee after more than 4,000 students at the school tested positive with a urine screening kit developed by Khon Kaen University.

Designed to offer a faster, more convenient alternative to stool testing, the kit is available through the National Health Security Office (NHSO) benefit scheme.

Dr Somrerk Jungsaman, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said officials would review whether people who test positive through urine screening alone should receive anti-parasitic treatment.

Current DDC guidelines recommend treatment only after stool examination confirms infection.

He said the kit had performed well in laboratory studies conducted in populations with a much higher prevalence of infection than is currently seen in the Northeast, where DDC surveillance data indicate a prevalence of about 5%. Its effectiveness in community screening therefore requires further evaluation.

‘This research was conducted with good intentions because stool examinations are difficult and often receive limited cooperation,’ Dr Somrerk said. ‘The challenge is determining whether laboratory results can be replicated in real-world settings.’

Dr Yongjua Laosirithaworn, director of the Division of General Communicable Diseases, said positive urine test results should be treated as preliminary and confirmed by stool examination.

Officials said preventing cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, remains the ministry’s priority through early detection, public education, improved sanitation and discouraging the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish.

The amount that Hong Kongers spend on their pet cats has reached a record high of HK$2,062 (8,800 baht) per month this year, fuelled by a rapidly emerging “cat silver economy”, according to a survey.

The Exhibition Group, organiser of the coming Hong Kong Cat Expo 2026, said on Monday that the average monthly spending represented a 2.8% year-on-year increase, with the growing proportion of ageing cats in the city expected to serve as a key driver of market growth in the coming years.

The findings were part of an online survey of about 2,500 cat owners last month to track feline ownership consumption trends, with 85% of respondents indicating that their overall cat care expenses had increased over the past year.

According to the survey, ageing felines were the second-ranked factor driving respondents’ spending increases, behind economic factors and followed by illness or accident-related medical care.

The proportion of cats aged four to seven had risen significantly from 20.8% of the feline population in 2024 to 28.2% this year. Cats have an average lifespan of 15 years.

“Within the next three to five years, this group of middle-aged cats – which makes up nearly 30% of the feline population – will become seniors,” said Shirley Chu Shuet-ling, general manager of the Exhibition Group.

“Therefore Hong Kong is going to experience a massive boom in consumption of medical care, prescription food, and precision healthcare products for cats,” Chu added, noting that owners’ motivation for spending had transitioned from merely feeding their pets to ensuring longevity and a better quality of life.

Based on the number of households with cats, the group estimated that the monthly expenditure on pet cats in Hong Kong had surpassed HK$500 million, with the annual figure rising to HK$6.92 billion this year.

While basic necessities such as food and cat litter remained the top two items, the share allocated to the third item – medical and healthcare products – was 14.4% this year.

On average, an owner kept two or more cats, with the proportion of respondents keeping three cats jumping from 11.3% in 2025 to 16.9% this year.

For the fourth consecutive year, the domestic shorthair was the most popular breed of cat in Hong Kong, followed by the British shorthair, American shorthair and ragdoll. The Maine Coon broke into the top five for the first time, according to the survey.

On future spending trends in the cat market, Chu said she expected mainstream human product brands to increasingly diversify into the pet market by developing pet food and supplements.

“In many cases, consumers feel more reassured giving their pets products from brands that are originally made for the human market,” she said, adding that many brands were developing cross-sector products to meet demand.

The Hong Kong Cat Expo 2026, with a theme titled “Wild West Cowcat”, runs from July 31 to Aug 2 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

The event, which has been held annually since 2023, will feature more than 180 exhibitors and 400 booths, bringing together local and international cat products, toys, lifestyle goods and art.

All key suspects in the civil service exam rigging scandal have been arrested, the officials who conspired with them will be charged and exam cheats will lose their jobs, senior officials said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also interior minister, said the three key suspects in the rigging of results of local government entry examinations nationwide were in custody.

Police investigators continued to gather evidence and compile the full case against them. The truth would be revealed to the public, he said.

The prime minister’s comments follow the arrest of Win Thanaphatcharaphokin, an adviser to the director of the Office of Promotion and Training at Kasetsart University; his younger sister, Sataporn Thanaphatcharaphokin; and Pichit Thangphrom, former director of the Strategy and Budget Division of Wichian Buri Municipality in Phetchabun province.

As interior minister, Mr Anutin supervises the Department of Local Administration (DLA), which is at the centre of the scandal.

Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said the three prime suspects arranged for 11 civil servants to change the scores of thousands of exam sitters, at Mr Pichit’s house in Nonthaburi province.

He said the 11 officials would next week face the same three charges that were pressed against the prime suspects – illegal assembly, document forgery and putting false information into a computer system.

Detectives would also find out who gave the exam-scores files to Mr Pichit, he said.

Unsit Sampuntharat, the permanent secretary for interior, said the investigation had found irregularities in the exam scores of about 5,000 new local government officials out of the 15,000 hired this year. They would probably lose their jobs.

He confirmed that everyone found involved in the rigging of the exam would face legal action.

About 400,000 people sat the exams that the DLA organised late last year to fill 6,700 positions. Thousands of candidates paid bribes ranging from 350,000 to 800,000 baht, depending on the desired positions, to ensure they got a passing grade.

When questioned about allegations that people connected to the examination fraud network may have links to senior figures in the Bhumjaithai Party, Mr Anutin insisted that anyone found to be involved would face legal consequences.

‘If it involves anyone, action will be taken against them all,’ he said.

Pressed on whether senior party figures would also be subject to investigation, he replied: ‘Certainly. If they are members of the party, there will be no exceptions. Whoever is involved must be dealt with according to the law and prosecuted.’

An entangled olive ridley sea turtle was rescued from a discarded fishing net after being found in a distressed state on the Karon beach shoreline on Monday. The turtle was found by a lifeguard who quickly called in a veterinary team from the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre. They freed and took the turtle into care for treatment and rehabilitation.

The centre said the turtle would be closely monitored and nursed back to full health, and then be released back into the Andaman Sea.

– About the species-The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle. It has a smooth, greyish-green shell, plainer than the hawksbill’s or green turtle’s, with a relatively large head and rounder snout. It is distinguished by two pairs of prefrontal scales and six to eight lateral scutes (side scales) on its shell, versus four in other species.

It grows to 75-80cm in length and can weigh up to 50kg. It can breed once its shell reaches 60-65cm in length.

Adults feed in shallow coastal waters, but can dive to 300 metres, and nest once every one to three years between October and March. Their large, strong beaks are suited to shrimp, molluscs, crabs and fish.

The olive ridleys in Thailand occur chiefly along the Andaman coast, where most strandings are reported. Gulf of Thailand strandings are rare.

Nesting is confined to the Andaman coast – Rah, Phra Thong and Kho Khao islands and Thai Mueang beach in Phang Nga, plus Mai Khao, Kamala and Rawai beaches in Phuket – although dwindling nest numbers suggest the species may be nearing local extinction.

The olive ridley is a protected species under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act BE 2535 (1992).

Sixty-three people injured by the fire at Rong Beer Na Ladprao are being treated at 16 hospitals in Bangkok. Twenty-two of them were seriously injured, police said on Monday.

The death toll remained at 27 confirmed fatalities.

The hospitals those injured in the deadly fire were admitted to are:

Praram 9: 1

King Chulalongkorn Memorial: 4

Phramongkutklao: 1

Police General: 2

Paolo Kaset: 5

Petchavej: 4

Phyathai Phaholyothin: 11

Phyathai 2: 1

Paolo Chokchai 4: 2

Ladprao: 5

Rajavithi: 11

Chulabhorn: 1

ViMUT: 9

CGH Phaholyothin: 1

Bhumibol Adulyadej: 1

Ramathibodi: 4

The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) remains necessary to tackle complex threats, but the agency must modernise, improve transparency and reduce spending, security experts say.

The debate over Isoc’s future has intensified as academics and politicians question whether its structure remains suited to Thailand’s changing security environment. While supporters say the agency plays a vital role in coordinating security responses, critics argue that overlapping responsibilities, budget management and accountability require major reform.

Role must evolve

Independent security and foreign affairs analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn said Isoc had undergone several transformations since its creation during the Cold War to counter communist insurgency.

He said the organisation was originally established to defeat communist movements through political and economic measures. After that threat receded, it gradually expanded into broader internal security work.

Mr Panitan, a former adviser to prime minister Gen Surayud Chulanont, said he had proposed restructuring Isoc into a US-style Homeland Security organisation to address emerging threats such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and illegal migration.

However, the government at the time was unable to pass legislation covering these new security challenges, leaving Isoc to evolve incrementally instead of undergoing a fundamental overhaul.

Thailand now faces more complex challenges, including cyber threats, transnational crime, international criminal networks and changing expectations from local communities, he said.

“Today, it is no longer the mission of Isoc 2.0 because new security threats are more complex,” Mr Panitan said.

He proposed creating an “Isoc 3.0” model combining security, development and military functions under a single mechanism.

Mr Panitan also suggested upgrading Isoc from a coordinating body into a department, bureau or national security management office with authority comparable to the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Under his proposal, projects in special security areas would require approval from the new body before being submitted to the cabinet, while personnel should be permanently assigned rather than seconded from other agencies.

He also said funding should prioritise local budgets, with central government support provided only when necessary to give communities a greater role in managing special areas.

Graft concerns

Srisompob Jitpiromsri, director of Deep South Watch and a director at the Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity (CSCD) at Prince of Songkla University, said Isoc’s role expanded after violence returned to the southern border provinces in 2004.

He said Isoc Region 4 Forward Command became the main agency overseeing security operations in the Deep South, receiving substantial government funding.

However, Mr Srisompob said questions persisted over whether the spending had been effective and transparent.

He also cited parliamentary allegations that public funds and resources had been used to support websites and social media pages targeting critics of government policies, including civil society groups working on human rights.

Mr Srisompob also questioned the payment of additional allowances to personnel already receiving salaries from their parent agencies.

He said critics had also raised concerns about alleged “ghost names” on lists of personnel receiving special payments despite not serving in the area.

However, Mr Srisompob said Isoc could continue to play a useful role if it operated effectively, transparently and under stronger oversight by parliament, civilian agencies and auditing bodies.

“If Isoc works within an effective framework, without corruption and with transparency, it can keep supporting national security,” Mr Srisompob said.

Budget under scrutiny

Concerns over Isoc’s structure have also intensified following scrutiny of its proposed 2027 budget.

Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachachat Party, said the proposed budget of 5.73 billion baht reflected broader governance concerns.

He noted that only 44.3 million baht was allocated for permanent staff salaries, suggesting Isoc has a permanent workforce of about 200 people.

The remaining 5.31 billion baht, or 92.6% of the budget, was classified as “other expenditure”, which he described as a system where funding drives operations while personnel are drawn from other agencies.

Pol Col Tawee also highlighted spending in the southern border provinces, where about 4.3 billion baht was allocated under other expenditure, including 2.34 billion baht for personnel-related costs.

He questioned whether this duplicated the work of agencies such as the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre and local administrations.

Pol Col Tawee said the structure created a “state within a state” and called for legal and administrative reform.

The Prachachat leader also referred to a recent case in which an Isoc vehicle and a military officer assigned to the agency were linked to the attempted assassination of Prachachat MP Kamonsak Leewamoh in Narathiwat in March, saying the incident reinforced the urgent need for greater accountability. The case remains before the courts.

Analysts agreed that abolishing Isoc would not resolve Thailand’s security challenges, particularly in border areas facing complex security threats.

Instead, they said the priority should be creating a smaller, more efficient organisation with clearer responsibilities, stronger oversight and better use of public funds.

The debate, they said, is no longer whether Isoc should exist, but how it should operate in a changing security environment while maintaining public trust.