- Title: HEALTH-MERS/THAILAND Thailand confirms first MERS case - health ministry
- Date: 18th June 2015
- Summary: NONTHABURI, THAILAND (JUNE 18, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH VARIOUS OF LABORATORY WORKER PUTTING ON GLOVE VARIOUS OF SCIENTISTS WORKING INSIDE LABORATORY
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2J0C9HTLO13IBN2ELSLYYM0W3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thailand confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Thursday (June 18), becoming the fourth Asian country to register the deadly virus this year.
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin told a news conference that a 75-year-old businessman from Oman had tested positive for MERS.
"Please don't panic. This person travelled from another country. The public health ministry has confirmed the case as quickly as possible," he said.
The health minister said 59 others were being monitored for the virus, including three of the man's relatives who travelled with him to Bangkok.
"Since he arrived here, we have isolated him from other patients, and his relatives also have no contact with other patients (in the hospital)," he added.
MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that triggered China's deadly 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The vast majority of MERS infections and deaths have been in Saudi Arabia, where more than 1,000 people have been infected since 2012, and about 454 have died.
Last month, a MERS outbreak erupted in South Korea resulting in 23 deaths so far. A total of 165 people have been infected and 6,700 people are in quarantine.
But there have been signs that the outbreak, the largest outside of Saudi Arabia, may be slowing in South Korea. The daily number of new cases has dropped to single digits this week compared to as many as 23 last week. Three were reported on Thursday - the lowest number since June 1.
All of the infections known to have occurred in South Korea have taken place in healthcare facilities. Three hospitals have been at least partially shut and two have been locked down with patients and medical staff inside.
China and the Philippines have also reported one MERS case this year.
Earlier, Thailand's Disease Control Department said it was screening travellers at 67 points of entry. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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