The Lam Mat flood in Hin Khon subdistrict, 2026 (B.E. 2569)

According to Siam Rath, on 3 October 2026 (B.E. 2569) water from seven upstream districts (Ban Kruat, Non Din Daeng, Pakham, Prakhon Chai, Lahan Sai, Chaloem Phra Kiat and Nang Rong) flowed into the Lam Mat river, which overflowed and flooded six villages with more than 1,000 households. The Ban Hin Khon to Ban Krathing road was under 30 to 50 centimetres of water for more than one kilometre. Residents had to use tractors towing trailers to carry motorcycles across, and about 3,200 rai of rice fields were damaged.

This picture is typical of floods on the low plains of the Northeast. The water does not arrive violently and leave quickly; it builds up slowly from many upstream districts and then stands across homes, roads and paddy fields. People wade through it, drive through it and go out to check their damaged rice. All of this creates public health work that begins the moment the water starts to fall.

The role of the district health office after the water recedes

During a flood, district health agencies work on several fronts at once: caring for patients in the area, distributing medicine and supplies, monitoring disease and informing the public. When the water falls, the work shifts to disease prevention and environmental recovery.

• Watching for waterborne disease: following up cases of diarrhoea, fever, skin disease and symptoms consistent with leptospirosis.
• Restoring health facilities: cleaning and disinfecting health stations so they can resume services as quickly as possible.
• Protecting sites used by vulnerable groups: child development centres, schools, and homes with older adults or bedridden patients.
• Restoring public spaces: village halls, temples, markets and former shelters.
• Supporting local government and village health volunteers with technical advice, choosing disinfectants and safe operation.

All of this happens with limited staff, limited budgets and real time pressure, because every day a school stays shut or a health station cannot offer full service affects people directly.

The post-flood germs disease control teams must deal with

Floods on a plain with villages, animal pens and rice fields carry several groups of germs into homes and public spaces.

Bacteria

• E. coli, a sign of faecal contamination in water and on surfaces, causing diarrhoeal disease.
• Salmonella, spread through food, utensils and food preparation areas.
• Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis. Rice farmers who go into flooded paddies and people who wade for days are a key risk group for disease control teams.

Viruses

• Norovirus and rotavirus, which spread easily in child centres and schools through hands, toys and surfaces.
• RSV and influenza, which spread easily when people gather in shelters or damp classrooms.

Moulds

Buildings that stood in water for days have damp walls, ceilings, wooden doors and furniture. The mould that follows worsens allergies and asthma, especially in children and older adults. The CDC recommends cleaning and drying buildings as quickly as possible after a flood.

For disease control teams the key principle is: remove mud and dirt, wash and clean, then apply a properly registered disinfectant according to its label. When there are dozens of sites across several subdistricts, an engine-powered mistblower makes it possible to complete that last step in time.

The constraints that slow district-level disinfection

Many sites spread across several subdistricts

A district has several health stations and dozens of child centres, schools, temples and village halls. When flooding is widespread, the sites needing recovery are spread across the whole district.

Roads are not back to normal

While roads such as Ban Hin Khon to Ban Krathing still carry water, travel takes longer and teams sometimes have to park and continue on foot. Equipment must be portable.

Existing equipment does not suit large areas

The hand-pump sprayers health stations use routinely are fine for small jobs but not for a whole school building, temple grounds or a market.

Electricity in some buildings is not yet safe

Buildings where water reached the sockets must be checked by an electrician first, so electric equipment cannot be used at the start.

Public expectations

Parents want to know when child centres and schools are safe for their children to return. Residents want to know when the health station will reopen. Health agencies need work that is fast, thorough and properly recorded.

Why hand pumps, mops and spot spraying are not enough

• Hand-pump or compression sprayers have small tanks, lose pressure, need constant pumping, produce coarse droplets and reach only a short distance. They suit small spots, not whole buildings or large open areas.
• Mops and cloths work on flat floors but do not reach lower walls, under desks, behind cupboards or complex structures.
• Small battery sprayers need frequent charging, are hard to use while power is unsafe and lack the airflow for large areas.
• Waiting for central teams is slow in a year when many provinces flood at once. Districts with their own equipment can start sooner.

What a district disease control team needs is a machine powerful enough for large areas, easy to move between subdistricts, independent of mains power, and manageable by a few trained staff for the whole district.

What is the SOLO PORT 423?

The [SOLO PORT 423](https://www.worldhealthdisinfection.com/en/product/15428-17449/solo-port-423) is an engine-powered backpack mistblower made by SOLO Kleinmotoren GmbH in Germany. A strong air stream from the engine-driven fan breaks the liquid into fine droplets and carries them over a distance to coat surfaces. World Health Disinfection (WHD) sells it in Thailand and identifies government agencies and large organisations as its main customers.

Key specifications according to the manufacturer, SOLO

• Single-cylinder two-stroke engine, displacement 72.3 cm³
• Output 3.0 kW (4.1 HP)
• Spray-liquid tank 12 litres
• Maximum airflow 1,400 m³/h
• Horizontal reach about 12 metres
• Dry weight 11.0 kg
• Sound pressure at the operator 97 dB(A), sound power 110 dB(A)
• Vibration up to 6.3 m/s²

Further details according to WHD's product information

• Fuel tank 1.4 litres; dimensions 68 x 45 x 34 cm
• Electronic ignition, BING float carburettor, MAHLE parts and a Nikasil-coated cylinder
• Long nozzle with a wide-angle diffuser and a rotatable spray tube
• UV-resistant translucent tank with a wide filler
• One-hand control lever for throttle, dosing and stop, a padded harness and four-point anti-vibration mounts
• WHD describes the output as ULV with droplets under 30 microns, saving chemical; actual droplet size depends on the nozzle and settings
• Some optional kits exist in the SOLO range; ask the dealer which ones fit this model

How the SOLO PORT 423 supports district-level disinfection

Classrooms and child development centres

After cleaning, the operator can stand at the classroom door and send mist throughout the room. With a maximum airflow of 1,400 m³/h according to SOLO, rooms can be treated one after another quickly, then closed for the time on the label before children return.

Health stations and their surroundings

Car parks, walkways, waiting areas and public toilets should be washed and disinfected on a day when the station is closed, before normal services resume.

Village halls, temples and shelters

Spaces that housed many evacuees should be washed and disinfected before they are used for activities again. A reach of about 12 metres helps cover large halls more quickly.

Markets and food sale areas

After stalls and floors are washed, disinfecting while the market is closed reduces the risk of foodborne illness. Keep disinfectant away from food and follow the label on food-contact surfaces.

Moving between subdistricts

At 11.0 kg dry, the machine is easy to load into a vehicle, so the district can rotate it between subdistricts according to priority.

Disease control teams know that the machine only delivers the chemical; the disinfecting effect depends on the product. Choose a properly registered disinfectant such as Chemgene HLD4H and always follow its label and SDS.

10 reasons a district health office should own a SOLO PORT 423

1. Large areas, few people. A handful of trained staff can handle spraying for the whole district.
2. Strong airflow: a maximum of 1,400 m³/h, according to SOLO.
3. About 12 metres of reach, suited to classrooms, halls and open grounds.
4. A 12-litre tank for continuous work and fewer refills.
5. No mains power needed, so work can start before building wiring has been checked.
6. Easy to move between subdistricts, and carried on the back into places vehicles cannot reach.
7. Schools and health stations reopen sooner, reducing the impact on children and patients.
8. Useful all year, for disinfecting public spaces or insect control according to the chemical label.
9. Suited to purchase as government equipment. Request specifications and a quotation from [WHD](https://www.worldhealthdisinfection.com/en/product/15428-17449/solo-port-423).
10. Made in Germany, with a Thai distributor to advise on operation, maintenance and spare parts.

Before and after the district has a SOLO PORT 423

Step by step: post-flood disinfection for a district disease control team

Planning

1. List all affected sites from health stations, local governments, community leaders and village health volunteers: facilities, schools, child centres, temples, halls and markets.
2. Set priorities. Start with health facilities, child centres and schools, then other public spaces.
3. Draw up a rotation schedule for the machine and team, fix the spray day for each subdistrict and notify local agencies in advance.
4. Prepare disinfectant and protective equipment. Use a properly registered product and keep the label and SDS with the team.

On site

1. Have local agencies clean first. Remove mud, wash floors and walls, discard soaked and mouldy materials.
2. Check building safety. Power must be off or already inspected.
3. Clear everyone out. Remove or cover food, utensils, children's toys and medical supplies as appropriate.
4. Put on full protective equipment: ear protection, gloves, goggles or face shield, the respirator the label requires, long sleeves and boots.
5. Work from inside to outside and top to bottom. Never spray into the wind or towards people or animals.

After spraying

1. Keep the area closed for the time on the label, with a sign showing when it can be used again.
2. Ventilate before reopening, especially rooms for young children.
3. Clean and maintain the machine according to the manufacturer's manual, and store chemicals in their original labelled containers.
4. Record the work: site, date, product, quantity and operator, for reports to supervisors and future planning.
5. Keep up disease surveillance. Continue following diarrhoea, fever and leptospirosis-like cases in the area for several weeks.

Safety for staff using the SOLO PORT 423

• Protect your hearing. Sound pressure at the operator is 97 dB(A), according to SOLO, so always wear ear muffs or plugs.
• Limit continuous operating time. Vibration builds up fatigue in hands and arms, so schedule operator rotations and regular breaks.
• Chemical protection according to the label and SDS: chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or face shield, respirator, long sleeves and boots.
• Refuel only with the engine off and cool, away from flames and heat sources.
• Mind the weight. With a full tank the machine weighs roughly 23 kg or more. Adjust the harness and watch for slippery floors after washing.
• Keep people and animals out of the spray zone, with a staff member at the entrance.
• Follow the label's re-entry time, especially for sites used by young children and patients.
• Train before real use. Operators must practise starting, adjusting the dose and stopping the engine according to the manual.

Working with local government and village health volunteers

A single machine achieves the most when the district health office uses it as part of a coordinated network rather than as one more tool on a shelf. Local governments usually control the trucks, the labour for mud removal and the water supply for washing, so their crews should finish cleaning each site the day before the spray team arrives. Village health volunteers know every household, including where older adults, bedridden patients and young children live, so they are best placed to tell residents when spraying will happen and when it is safe to return. The health station provides the technical link: it confirms which disinfectant is being used, keeps the label and SDS on file and records any symptoms reported afterwards. The district health office then holds the master schedule, assigns trained operators and makes sure the machine is cleaned, refuelled safely and handed over in working order between subdistricts. With these roles agreed before the next flood season, a district can move from the first dry day to a full programme of site disinfection without losing time on arrangements.

Buying it as government equipment, and other options

District health offices and local agencies that want to purchase the SOLO PORT 423 as official equipment can request specifications and a quotation from WHD by phone or LINE. Pricing depends on quantity and terms, so no figures appear here. A district may also partner with local government to acquire and share the machine, with a clearly named person responsible for it.

If an agency needs a professional team to treat certain urgent sites first, it can choose WHD's disinfection service as a separate option.

FAQ: SOLO PORT 423 for district health offices and disease control teams

How much is the SOLO PORT 423, and can a government agency get a quotation?

WHD does not publish a price online. Agencies can request specifications and a quotation on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

How is the SOLO PORT 423 different from a thermal fogger used for mosquito control?

A thermal fogger uses heat to turn the liquid into smoke. The SOLO PORT 423 uses an air stream to create a mist without heat.

Can it be used to disinfect a child development centre after a flood?

Yes, after cleaning and with no children present. Use a properly registered product and keep the area closed for the time on the label before reopening.

How far does the SOLO PORT 423 spray?

About 12 metres horizontally, according to SOLO.

How large is the tank?

12 litres, according to SOLO.

Should we clean first or disinfect first?

Always remove mud and clean first, then apply disinfectant.

Which disinfectant should be used with this machine?

A properly registered disinfectant whose label covers this type of use, such as Chemgene HLD4H, sold by WHD.

What protective equipment do staff need?

Ear protection, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or a face shield, a respirator as required by the label, long sleeves and boots.

How heavy is the machine?

11.0 kg dry according to SOLO, and roughly 23 kg or more with a full tank.

Get your district disease control team ready for post-flood work

Request specifications, a quotation and advice on suitable disinfectants. The WHD team is ready to support your agency.

View SOLO PORT 423 and request a quote

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268

Further reading and references

• SOLO PORT 423 backpack mistblower against dengue for municipalities and SAOs (Thai)
• Spraying against emerging diseases with the SOLO PORT 423 for provincial public health offices (Thai)
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant
• WHD disinfection service
• Local news: Siam Rath, 3 October 2026 (B.E. 2569); national data: PRD, DDPM figures of 7 October 2026 (B.E. 2569)
• Post-flood advice: CDC and Department of Disease Control