A man from Oman was announced by the Thai Ministry of Public Health to be the second confirmed MERS- CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) case in Thailand.
Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakonsattayatorn told a Press conference this morning that the 71-year Omani patient received medical treatment for fever and cough in Oman for a week before he arrived in Thailand on January 22 for medical treatment at Bumrungrad hospital.
Laboratory tests at Bumrungrad and Chulalongkorn hospitals confirmed the patient was infected with MERS- CoV and was transferred to Bamrasnaradura hospital for treatment.
Thai authorities are know tracking down altogether 238 people who were in contact with the patient.
These include 218 passengers and crews of the same flight with the patient, his relative who traveled with him, a taxi driver, one hotel staff and 30 hospital staffers.
Of all the 238 people, 37 of them are put in the high risk group who have to be placed under close watch by medical staff at a place already reserved for them for 14 days which are the period for the incubation of the virus.
The high risk group comprises the patient’s relative, the taxi driver, 23 passengers, a hotel staff and 11 hospital staffers.Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr Sophon Mekthong said that Thailand has had working experience in dealing with MERS cases.
He pleaded with members of the public not to panic and to take precautions by cleaning their hands more often and avoid sharing the same spoons with the other people.
Those who returned from countries where MERS is spreading should immediately see doctors if they have fever and cough after 14 days of their arrivals. Or they can call Communicable Diseases Control Department at 1422.
Source: Thai PBS English News
