HEALTH-MERS/THAILAND-PRIME MINISTER Thai PM urges people not to panic following first MERS case

Record ID: 151805

  • Title: HEALTH-MERS/THAILAND-PRIME MINISTER Thai PM urges people not to panic following first MERS case
  • Date: 19th June 2015
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (JUNE 19, 2015) (REUTERS) THAI PRIME MINISTER PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA WALKING TOWARDS MICROPHONE FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PRAYUTH TALKING TO MEDIA SECURITY GUARD STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI PRIME MINISTER, PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA, SAYING: "Sixty-nine hospitals that are experienced in handling SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and bird flu are now taking care o
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VUVM7H3A5WGED4RP7GZFCUDG
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha urged people not to panic at a news conference on Friday (June 19), assuring them that the country is well prepared to handle any Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cases.
    Thailand confirmed its first case of MERS on Thursday (June 18), after a 75-year-old businessman from Oman tested positive for the virus.
    The case comes just as the outbreak of the deadly virus in South Korea, which has infected 166 people and killed 24 of them over the past month, appeared to be levelling off.
    The prime minister assured people that medical teams all over Thailand were well-prepared and had enough past experience to handle the situation.
    "Sixty-nine hospitals that are experienced in handling SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and bird flu are now taking care of MERS as well. They will check whether the medical staff, equipment are sufficient, and the readiness of the quarantine room. That's why we were able to identify (the man) this time because we have been building awareness all along," said Prayuth.
    "Please don't panic. We are taking care of this. If anyone has any doubt about their symptoms, please contact these hospitals. We have to help each other, and please be careful," he added.
    The Thai case will compound fears in Asia of a repeat of a 2002-2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which began in China and killed about 800 people globally.
    MERS was first identified in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and the majority of cases have been in the Middle East.
    Isolated cases had started cropping up in Asia before South Korea's outbreak began last month.
    Thailand is the fourth Asian country to register a case.
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