Thailand Moves Swiftly to Contain MERS

 
Thailand, 29 June 2015 - Swift action taken by the Thai health authorities has restricted the number of confirmed cases of MERS to a single individual, with no more cases being reported as of 22 June, 2015. Meanwhile, all visitor arrivals are flowing normally via all international gateways and the travel and tourism industry remains in full operation.



According to Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, the first case of MERS-CoV infection was confirmed on 18 June, 2015, a 75-year-old patient from Oman. He was quickly moved from Bumrungrad Hospital to a quarantine room at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. All those who had come into contact with the patient, including his relatives and hospital personnel, were also immediately checked and cleared.


Today, this Omani man who became the country’s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been declared free of the virus.

In the latest test result, the Ministry said they did not find the MERS virus in the patient, adding that man’s condition has gradually improved. He is now being treated for his heart conditions, the original reason for him to travel to Thailand.

The man’s three relatives who travelled with him to Thailand were also free of the virus, but will remain in the 14-day quarantine.

The Ministry is still monitoring 20 people who were exposed to Thailand’s first and only MERS patient, including 14 passengers on the same flight, two taxi drivers, and four medical personnel. All are in good health with lab test showing no MERS virus.

(News release from Tourism Authority of Thailand)