Bangkok--6 Dec--Connect PR According to World Allergy Congress 2007 (WAC 2007) in Thailand, the Thai government has spent more than Bt12 billion every year on the medical treatments of the allergy patients, of which the current number is four times higher than over the past five to ten years. Professor Pakit Vichayanond, president of the Allergy and Immunology Society of Thailand, unveiled that the allergies have affected over ten million Thai people and the number is expected to climb up further at the alarming rate. He noted that the illness could be completely cured, if the affected persons are well informed of the self-help prevention of allergy symptoms. He said that the change of the living ways has greater exposed the allergy-affected persons to the allergens or the allergy risk factors, such as the environmental pollution and foods. More, not all people but only the patients’ relatives or their close friends are eager to acquire the knowledge of the allergies, the prevention, and the clinical treatments, suggesting that the awareness of the malady, is still limited to a small group of people. He added though the vaccine for reducing the allergic symptoms has already been available, the patient number has still been far from the decline. The other concerned issue is Thailand has an inadequate number of the allergy experts - around 100 allergists and most are based in Bangkok, making it difficult for the country to efficiently deal with the critical allergy situation and the rising patient number. The World Allergy Congress 2007 began in December 2 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the first time the event is being held in Thailand. The congress runs until Thursday and is being hosted jointly by the Allergy and Immunology Society of Thailand, together with World Allergy Organization (WAO), West-Pacific Allergy Organization and Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI). The congress also granted fund to 21 Thai doctors, who have conducted the study about the allergies, to join the conference in order to share ideas with around 4,000 delegates from the around the world as well as presenting their discoveries and achievements. The funding is aimed at increasing the number of the allergy specialists in Thailand. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony on December 3. Exhibitions will also be held at the venue to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday. More details are available at www.wac2007thailand.com or www.wac2007.com. For more information please contact Savitree Peungcharoenkun (081 816 4598) Chatsaral (Pom) Tiamwon (089 443 6886) Lapat Khwanmongkhon (084 399 2688) Chadaporn Namaiklarp (081 735 0696)